State Flag Day is celebrated in Azerbaijan
November 10 is State Flag Day in Azerbaijan.
"Our flag is our pride. Our flag is our soul, our heart. Today, the flag of Azerbaijan is flying in every part of our country."
These words of the President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, reflect the infinite love of every member of the Azerbaijani nation for their flag.
Our glorious tricolor flag was adopted as a state symbol at the meeting of the government of the Azerbaijan People's Republic on November 9, 1918. The three colors of the flag represent the three fundamental principles of our national independence ideology of the early 20th century, the formula "Turkism, Islamism, and Modernity," authored by the prominent Azerbaijani thinker Ali bey Huseynzadeh.
After the Bolshevik occupation on April 27, 1920, our tricolor flag and the values it represented were attempted to be forgotten, but the Azerbaijani people did not forget their symbol of independence.
Our tricolor flag was re-established as the state flag of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic at a session held by the initiative and under the leadership of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, on November 17, 1990. Under the leadership of the national leader, the Azerbaijani people regained their tricolor symbol of independence after 70 years.
On February 5, 1991, by the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the current tricolor flag with a crescent and star was declared the state flag of the independent republic.
By the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated November 18, 2009, November 9 was officially declared State Flag Day. The President also proposed amendments to the Labor Code, and in response to the proposal, the National Assembly made changes, making State Flag Day a non-working day.
Today, State Flag Day of Azerbaijan is celebrated with special grandeur. On September 27, 2020, the 44-day Patriotic War, which began, resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani army, after 30 years, ended the occupation, and our glorious tricolor flag was once again raised in Karabakh.
The raising of the flag in Jabrayil, Khojali, Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Gubadli, with the report of the heroic soldiers to President Ilham Aliyev, brought joy to our people. The raising of the flag in Shusha, the pearl of Azerbaijan and Karabakh, marked the absolute victory in the 44-day war. Our glorious flag also flew in Agdam, Kelbajar, and Lachin.
After the war ended, Azerbaijan has started large-scale construction and restoration work in the liberated territories, which were destroyed by Armenian vandalism. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, significant efforts are being made to restore these territories. Today, the people of Azerbaijan eagerly await the return of peaceful life to Karabakh and East Zangazur. The days we will spend in the liberated lands, with our flag flying, are not far off!
For the people, the flag is also a symbol of those who gave their lives for the country without hesitation. On this day, as we celebrate the victory in the Patriotic War, our state flag, flying in every corner of independent Azerbaijan, reminds us of these dear people. They gave their lives so that our tricolor flag could proudly fly in the skies of the homeland. It is our duty to take care of the sacred legacy of our martyrs and always show respect for it!