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they demonstrate the high level of our culture abroad. The same words can be applied 
to our female scientists, stateswomen, sportswomen as well. A lot can be said about 
women. On my way to this meeting I was thinking of how to  express my feelings. 
But I don`t want to take your time. I always highly appreciate the activity of the 
Azerbaijani women in the society. Our women are brave and partiotic. They love 
the motherland. They love justice. I witnessed it in October 1994. Then some armed 
forces attempted an overthrow. In the evening I addressed the Azerbaijani people and 
invited it to defend our state. Two hours later there were thousands of people in front 
of the Presidential Palace. That square was too crowded. All worried. All wanted 
to defend Azerbaijan. Witnessing the courage of all the people, I made sure that no 
force can overthrow our state. There were a lot of women of all ages in the crowd. 
Some had even brought their children. Then I saw how brave our women are. The 
patriotism of our women is very high. Because they convey these features to their 
children. We need this. Now we are creating and developing our independent state. 
We need to strengthen our statehood. Patriotism is the highest concept for every 
Azerbaijani. Women implement their tasks in order to achieve these goals. 
The Azerbaijani women are very beautiful. I don`t mean only visual beauty. The 
beauty of each nation is represented by women. Now we can see the whole world. 
But for me no women of any part of the world can be compared with our women. 
As the prominent Russian writer Chekhov said, everything in human being must be 
beautiful. This beauty is of special importance. The beauty of nation emerges from 
the beauty of its
members
. I always think of the morals and beauty of our nation. 
We can be proud that our nation is beautiful. Our nation is not less beautiful than 
other nations. Our nation is talented and brave. I hope that the future will confi rm 
my words. The beauty of the women is of great importance for our nation. Every 
poet praises woman`s beauty. We must love and respect women. I congratulate you 
and wish you the best. Thank you. 
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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TO THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE UN CONFERENCE 
«WOMEN AND ARMED CONFLICTS»  
Baku, May 17, 1998
Distinguished participants of the conference!
I cordially welcome you and wish success to the participants of the international 
conference held in Baku.
One of the features of the 20
th
 century is the growing activity of women in the 
public and political life of the world nations. It is an undeniable fact that wars, military 
confl icts create diffi culties for women. Therefore, it is natural that they confi dently 
and zealously struggle for peace and stability, against military confl icts. 
It is expected that the conference dedicated to these issues is held in Baku, 
Azerbaijan. Every citizen, especially women of our republic, which has been in the 
state of war for over 10 years, with 20 per cent of its territories under the occupation 
of the Armenian armed forces and more than one million refugees forced to leave 
their homes and living in tents in hard conditions, experience all the disasters of the 
armed confl ict in their daily lives. 
There has been a ceasefi re and there are not military operations in the frontline for 
four years. However, despite all our efforts, relevant decisions of the UN, activity 
of the Minsk Group of OSCE on the peaceful solution of the confl ict, no peace is 
achieved. I hope that your conference will assist the peaceful solution of the confl ict 
which has brought big tragedies to the Azerbaijani people, especially the women. 
The Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan ensures equal rights for men and 
women in our society. Big opportunities for the representation of women in the 
public and political life, as well as in the state structures of the country are being 
created.
I want to assure you that the Republic of Azerbaijan pursues the way of 
establishment of a democratic, legal and secular state and will do more for the 
expansion of the rights of women. 
Distinguished participants of the conference!
Your conference is dedicated to the issues, which are important for our region. I 
wish the women ceased the armed confl icts and the mankind entered the 21
st
 century 
in peace and stability. 
Heydar Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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TO THE FIRST  ASSEMBLY OF THE AZERBAIJANI WOMEN 
Baku, September 14, 1998
Distinguished representatives of the assembly! I congratulate you, the 
representatives of the Azerbaijani women on the occasion of the fi rst assembly of 
women in our republic and wish the assembly successes. 
The Azerbaijani women have always played an important role in our society. Our 
literature refl ects wise and beautiful female characters. The female characters of 
«Kitabi-Dede Korkut» are symbols of great will and bravery. 
There were a lot of talented poetesses, queens, female warriors in the history of 
Azerbaijan. In the Middle Ages 
she organized assembliers where the poets competed 
in verse
 Mahsati Ganjavi was famous abroad. 
Great Nizami created such female characters as Shirin, Mehinbanu, Fitne and 
Nushabe. The Momina Khatun Mausoleum by Ajami is not only magnifi cent, but 
also a symbol of the tribute to women as well. 
Inspiring our poets and masters, the Azerbaijani women have done their best for 
maintaining our native language, traditions, and developed our national culture. The 
Azerbaijani culture actually refl ects the intellect and wisdom of women. 
The ongoing processes and oil boom in Azerbaijan in the 19
th
 century motivated 
the women to join the public life. Establishment of secular theatre, democratic press 
and new schools opened new opportunities for the development of the Azerbaijani 
women. Our women were granted suffrage for the fi rst time in our history. They 
have become active members of our society.  
The Azerbaijani women passed a glorious and complicated path of development 
in 1920-1991. The literacy of women was liquidated within a short time. Women 
became teachers, doctors, engineers. The women`s councils, the journal «Azerbaijani 
woman» played an important role in the women movement. The Azerbaijani women 
were represented in education, science and culture along with the men. 
The Azerbaijani women went through the diffi culties because of the Armenian 
aggression against Azerbaijan and occupation of 20 per cent of the territories. The 
break of economic relations, transition period created a lot of problems for women in 
every Azerbaijani family. Because of some internal and external forces, Azerbaijan 
faced a civil war. Women played an important role in strengthening the statehood. 
They demonstrated it during the October events of 1994 and in the March events of 
1995.
The fi rst Constitution of Azerbaijan adopted in 1995 provided equal rights for 
men and women and created a legal basis for the women to take an active part in the 
In the Name of the Azerba  ani Woman

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