28 years ago today, Azerbaijan was undergoing labour procedures, due to give birth to an era of development in political, economic, social and other aspects. Everyone in Azerbaijan was so eager to hold in their arms to build peaceful, habitable and prosperous Azerbaijan.
There were also those, both friends and enemies of Azerbaijan, who then predicted the worst. They believed that the country was at the brink of collapse because, in many terms, it surely was.
It was soon after Azerbaijanis celebrated their independence that the country’s toughest times showed up. Crisis hit the country and the government seemed to hardly be able to handle it. Chaos spread in all spheres of life, social, economic, political, among others.
Unlawful players increased because the situation even in the military was not anything as other segments of the government. Individuals and separate groups fought for control. To even make it worse, Armenia solidified aggression day by day.
The Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, which took power on May 14, 1992, demonstrated complete inability to run the country, leaving many to anticipate a civil war.
On June 9, 1993, Azerbaijan’s outstanding son Heydar Aliyev accepted persistent invitation of the people and came to Baku from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, where he was the member of Parliament of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijanis of all walks of life joyfully welcomed the return of Heydar Aliyev, with hope.
Heydar Aliyev, who succeeded to prevent the civil war in Azerbaijan in a very short period of time, became elected chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 15, a historical date, annually marked as Day of the National Salvation.
Azerbaijan’s challenges then could only be overcome by greatness, bravery and devotion, all of which, fortunately, are owned by National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
The National Leader, devoted his life to change the country and touch every Azerbaijani’s life with prosperous national plans. It was in June 1997 that the Azerbaijani Parliament declared June 15 as a public holiday.