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Today marks Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis

31 December 2008 06:00 (UTC +04:00)

This holiday plays an important role in establishing contacts, unity and solidarity with the Azerbaijanis living in various countries. Celebrating the Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis has become a need and moral necessity for the world Azerbaijanis. December 31 â€“ Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis is marked in over 70 countries of the world. Despite serious pressures of two totalitarian states, the Azerbaijanis living on both banks of the Araz river marched towards the border, broke the wires and for weeks voiced slogans calling for unity, this once more demonstrated the might of the Azerbaijanis as a nation. Solidarity Day is a symbol of this unity.

The foundation of the Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis was laid in Nakhchivan late in December, 1989, when USSR-Iran borders were knocked down. On December 16, 1991, chairman of Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Heydar Aliyev, taking into account the importance of the world Azerbaijanisâ€™ uniting, declared December 31 as the Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis.

Later under the decree issued by Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in 1993, December 31 was officially declared a state holiday â€“ Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis. Since then the Azerbaijanis have been marking December 31 â€“ Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis as an important holiday.