DECREE OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN

On measures on settling of a part of IDPs, ousted from Agdam and Fizuli regions as a result of occupaion of Azeri lands by Armenian armed forces and sojourned in encampments, on the territory of these regions

The most tragic pages of Azerbaijan history in 20th century have been connected with appearance of refugees and IDPs. The important geo-strategic location, rich natural resources of Azerbaijan impelled forces having interest in the region, to expatriate the Azeries from their historical lands. For realization of various political aims, the territory of Azerbaijan was divided, broken up and even alloted for placing other nations. Beginning from 19th century, Armenian factor turned into one of the main ones in carrying out of this policy. This problem, caused by mass settling of Armenians on the historical Azeri lands, including Karabakh and Irevan khanates, which had been parts of Russia as Azeri khanates, created a ground for territorial claims. Some forces tried to describe the claims as Armenian - Azerbaijani contradiction. Despite the Azeries repeteadly underwent unfairness and crimes by Armenians, they have always displayed their tolerance and goodwill and did all possible for establishment of normal relations between the two nations which had been doomed historically to stay in the neighbourhood. It was pronouncedly reflected in the works of great Azeri writers and thinkers as Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Jalil Mamedkuluzade, Nariman Narimanov, Jafar Jabbarli.

The far-fetched Nagorno Karabakh problem, raised since 1987 from the very begining was apprehended by Azerbaijani people as an attempt against the territorial integrity of the Republic. Despite the fact that inviolability of our borders was officially confirmed by the state stuctures at numerous level, the insidious policy, following the aim of secession from Azerbaijan, was realized step by step. Due to resolutions, based on the far-fetched reasons and without any objective ground, Nagorno Karabakh was presented exceptional rights, settlement of many issues was directly laid on the union ministries and departmendts. By the resolution of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 12 Januaury 1989 in the autonomous region was set a Special Adminstration Committee.

From the first day of the conflict all the material, published about it in the union press, underwent a communist censorship. The true reasons of the conflict were out of reach for masses. The information, disseminated by the Armenian lobby in the USSR and abroad, completely misrepresenting the essence of conflict, served a false idea of violation of the rights of the Armenian in Nagrono Karabakh. This campaign, commenced in the information space, gradually came on the political plane. For seizure of Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan and annexation of it to Armenia was chosen the way of rendering pressure by organizing pickets, meeings, strikes. Then the indigenous Azeris residing in Nagorno Karabakh were undergone forcible methods - discharge from work, threat, even facts of murder.

The gulf between formality, characteristic then for the union leadership, and the reality, acquired in the Nagorno Karabakh problem its extreme form. It was offciially announced on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, adopted a decision on urgent liquidation of the armed sub-units in Nagrno Karabakh. In fact, the Armenians were equipped in mass order by weapons of the then Soviet Army and even brought from abraod, the destructive forces in Armenia were supported, the separatist tendency in the region was turned a blind eye. Collapse of the USSR forced the Armenians to give up the plan of realization of their goals, connected with the annexation of Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, by the decision of the union leadership. The Armenian separatists decided to completely bring the question from the ploitical plane to the plane of military conflict. In those years, as the Armenians had prepared for long years to solve the issue by military way, the leadership of Azerbaijan even after gaining independence did not think on establishment of national army. So, before the overarmed regular Armenian armed forces appeared the defenceless peaceful people. In a short time the Lachin corridor was occupied by Armenians, and was reached the issue of achieving common borders of Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh.

During 1991-1992, the situation in Nagorno Karabakh day by day became sharp. The Khojali tragedy happened. As a result of treachery was made a ground for uccupation of Shusha. By the Khojali tragedy and occupation of Shusha the Armenian armed forces, in fact, completed the policy of ethnic purge in Nagrono Karabakh. The Azeri people of Nagorno Karabakh was forced to flee from their home lands.

Internal battles to assume power, provokation of numerous forces, creation instead of National Army poor armed detachments, belonging to political forces, vieing with each other to assume power, chaos in the pre-front regions allowed the Armenians to occupy the Azeri lands. And the Armenians skillfully taking the occasion of complicated socio-political situation in Azerbaijan, poor policy of the then Azerbaijan's leadership, who led the country to the brink of civil war, the Armenian separatistsconstantly occupied not only Nagorno Karabakh, but also the adjacent regions.

Since November 1993, were implemented urgent measures, connected with the forming of National Army, establishment of of regular Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, defence of our lands. Just as a result of the attacks of Azerbaijan's army in 1994 were liberated part of territory of Agdam and Fizuli provinces. Feeling the force and might of our National Army, the Armenians commenced negotiaitons, as a result of which in May 1994 in the Armenian-Azrebaijani war was reached ceasefire.

At present, as a result of the military agression by Armenians, connected with its territorial claim to Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and the adjacent regions have been occupied, over one million of our compatriots, ousted from their native lands, have become refugees and internally displaced persons. They have been resettled in unfit houses, domitories, sanatoriums, school buildings, uncompleted appartments, other residences in the capital of Azerbaijan Republic Baku, other cities and provinces of the Country . A greater part of refugees and IDPs have temporarily been settled in special camps - tents, mounted wood houses and railway cars.

Inspite of permanent assistance by Azerbaijan's Government, various enterprises and companies, businessmen, international humanitarian organizations, the refugees and IDPs sojurning in encampments still have extremely hard living conditions. Whatever the efforts the Government of Azerbaijan has made for improvement of the situation, it, however, should do still a lot to provide them with ordinary living conditions and employment.

For the purpose of building habitable settlements, including relevant infrastructures, improvement of living conditions for a part of IDPs from Agdam and Fizuli regions sojourning in the encampments and freight cars, provision them with opportunity to engage in agriculture, allocation of personal and sowing plots for each family, it is decided:

1. Settling of a part of IDPs from Agdam and Fizuli regions on the teritory of villiages of Ergi, Khindiristan, Guzanli and Ayag-Gervend of Agdam region, and Kharami of Fizuli region, shall be considered expedient.

2. In order to settle 1300 families in 2001 - 2002s, Azerbaijan State Committee on refugees and IDPs shall provide building of 2 habitable settlements on the territory of Agdam region to settle 150 families in each, and another
2 ones to settle 100 families in each, as well as 4 habitable settlements for 800 families, 200 in each, on the territory of Fizuli region.
Executive authorities of the regions together with the State Commitee on Land and Cartography and Ministry of Agriculture shall undertake relevant measures for allocation, according to established order, of personal and sowing plots for IDPs.

State Committee of Azerbaijan Republic for Refugees and IDPs to ensure allocation for the families of IDPs, who are provided with land plots, necessary means for their agricultural activities.

3. To assign the Committee of AZrebaijan Republic for Refugees and IDPs, executive powers of relevant provinces, to ensure resettlement of 1300 families of IDPs from Agdam and Fizuli regions, temporarily residing in the tent camps, railway cars, in the appartments of the given settlements.

4. To finance the construction at the territory of Agdam region of 4 residential settlements for 500 families and at the territory of Fizuli region another 4 settlements for 800 families and for IDPs agricultural activities to allocate to the State Committee of Azerbaijan Republic for Refugees and IDPs from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Republic means at amount of AZM84 billion.

5. Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan Republic to ensure the finance expenses, connected with the resettlement of the IDPs.

6. State Committee of Azerbaijan Republic for construction and architecture to ensure preparation of the project-estimation documents for construction on the base of order of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs at the territory of Agdam province of 4 settlements, for 500 families and at the territory pf Fizuli province another 4 settlements for 800 families.

7. The organizer-customer is to be the Fund of social protection for the IDPs of Azerbaijan Republic.

8. Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic will solve the issues, resulting from this Decree.

9. The Decree comes into effect on the signing day.

Heydar Aliyev,
President of Azerbaijan Republic.

City of Baku, 7 September 2001.