Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic at the period of Heydar Aliyev

The end of the 80s of the 20th century and the beginning of 90s is characterized as the most complicated period of socio-political events in whole Azerbaijan, as well as in its part, Nakhchivan. The opposite policy of the Soviet Empire leadership to the interests of Azerbaijan, territorial claims of Armenians to Nakhchivan and military clashes on borders during that period, influenced the life of the Autonomous Republic badly. At these times, there was a need for the leadership having political practice, diplomatic ability to end the people’s struggle for the freedom with a victory in Azerbaijan, and also in its integral part of Nakhchivan. Such kind of a leader was Heydar Aliyev, the nation wide leader, prominent state man of Azerbaijan who had a great influence in the political world. 

Heydar Aliyev came to Baku from Moscow on July 20, 1990 and on July 22 he came to Nakhchivan. 

On August 21, 1990 the Presidium Staff of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic’s Supreme Soviet adopted a resolution on the Nakhchivan ASSR citizenship of Heydar Aliyev. During the elections of September 30, 1990, he was elected as the people’s deputy of the Azerbaijan SSR from the Nehrem constituency, and people’s deputy of Nakhchivan ASSR by the Nakhchivan Knitting Factory. 

On November 17, 1990, the first session of the Nakhchivan ASSR Supreme Soviet’s 12th summon was held under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev. A very important decision was adopted in that session. The session ruled out to change the name of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The decisions were made to change the name of the Nakhchivan ASRR Supreme Soviet as Nakchivan Automous Republic’s Supreme Assembly, and to restore the three-colored state flag of the Azerbaijan Republic as an independence symbol, and to adopt it as the national flag of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 

The Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic raised a petition to the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR on adopting that flag as the official state symbol of all Azerbaijan. One of the most important issues discussed at the first session of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was the political value given to the 20th January tragedy of 1990. On November 21, 1990 the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic accepted the decision on “Giving the political attention to the events in January 1990, in Baku” which was prepared by Heydar Aliyev. 

On December 14, 1990 the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan AR accepted the decision on “The approach to the situation in Nagorno Karabakh  Autonomous Region of the Azerbaijan SSR, Shaumyan region, and in the Chaykend village of Khanlar region” prepared by Heydar Aliyev. 

On September 3, 1991, the extraordinary session of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was called. Heydar Aliyev was unanimously elected the chairman of the Supreme Assembly in this session. 

In the session held on October 26, the decision was adopted to repeal the 7th November holiday (the day of October revolution in the former USSR) in Nakhchivan. 

One of the most successful aspects of the activities of Heydar Aliyev in Nakhchivan was that he decreed on the Solidarity and Unity Day of World Azerbaijanians. 

On October 29, 1991, there was an official opening ceremony of a temporary bridge on the Araz river between Turkey and Azerbaijan in Sadarak region of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic  which was done with the strong initiative of Heydar Aliyev. On March 22-25, 1992, Joint Collaboration Protocol was signed with Suleyman Demirel, the Prime Minister of Turkey, which implied giving financial, economic, and technical assistance to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, allocation of 100 million dollars of credit, and also education of 100 students every year in Turkey. On May 28, 1992, there was the opening of the “Hope” bridge that had been built on the Araz River between Nakhchivan and Turkey. 

On August 22-26, 1992 Heydar Aliyev payed a visit to Iran Islamic Republic, met with the supreme religious leader Ayatullah Khomneyi and the president of the Iran Islamic Republic Ali Akbar, and other official figures. As a result of this visit, he signed protocols on collaboration in different fields between Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Iran Islamic Republic.

In 1992, on the basis of the collaboration contracts signed with Iran and Turkey, transition points in Sadarak, Julfa, and Shahtakhti were establish. Besides, there was constructed Heat and Energy Station near Nakhchivan. 

Setting the electrical lines of high tension to Julfa region from Iran Islamic Republic and from Igdir province of the Turkish Republic in a distance of 92 km was completed, and it met Nakhchivan’s energy demand. So, during 1991-1993, the nation wide leader Heydar Aliyev could lead the country to the way of extensive prosperity during his ruling years in Nakhchivan.