National Heroes of Azerbaijan
Hero – SPPU member
21 years ago, when he was 29 years of age, dead. And in this March he would be executed 50 years old…
Vugar Mirazbar oglu Mursalov was born March 10, 1963 in the village Goytapa of Jalilabad district of Azerbaijan. He finished from high school number one in 1980, and then continued his education at first in the 67th professional technical school in Baku, then in the Baku Polytechnic College. He completed his studies in this special educational institution with distinction.
After technical school Vugar was sent to the active military service in the ranks of the former Soviet army which served in the city of Brest of Belarus. During service he was conferred with the rank of major sergeant, and further he became a tankman.
Having demobilized out from army in 1984, Mursalov returned to native places and began labor activity by profession Geytapa Machine-Building Plant. Passed years and at the beginning of the 90th years of last century V. Mursalov was compelled to give up favourite business. And it is connected by that, you see Armenia wanted to appropriate part of the Azerbaijani lands. For this purpose the old Armenian underground separatist and terrorist organizations began to work openly under new names. Hundred thousand local Azerbaijanis were expelled by Armenians from Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK). Already there were dozens of victims – the peace Azerbaijanis killed by the Armenian fighters, and so-called “the Armenian movement” for rejection of NK– the historical Azerbaijani territory, accepted the increasing scope.
Under similar circumstances Vugar, of course, couldn’t be aside and is indifferent to watch a course of events. In 1991 when “the Armenian movement” gained nature of open undeclared war of Armenia against Azerbaijan, he joined in ranks of the Special Purpose Policy Unit (SPPU) and as the skilled fighter began to battle against the Armenian armed gangster forces.
As a part of SPPU, V. Mursalov is battled on the Fizuli, Khanlar, Agdam, Lachyn, Shusha, Geranboy and Agdere directions. And he fought bravely, so that in a short time has become a favorite SPPU. This brave fighter, who has rushed to wrestle for life or death for each inch of the Azerbaijani lands, didn’t want and couldn’t reconcile to the fact of occupation by the Armenian armed gangster formations of the primordial territories belonging to Azerbaijan. Having turned the breast into a live board, he repeatedly rescued from inevitable death of the companions on fight.
June 9, 1992, when Armenian forces attacked the village of Jamilla of Terter district, struck up a fierce struggle between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. Vugar who inflicted significant losses to the enemy and fight to the last bullet, was mortally wounded by a sniper shot and died a heroic death…
On October 8, 1992, Vugar Mirazbar oglu Mursalov was posthumously conferred the honorary title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan.
The hero was buried in Baku, in the Alley of Martyrs. The school in the city of Geytepa where he studied is called in his honor, in the downtown V. Mursalov’s bust is established, streets in Terter, Geytepa and Jalilabad are called a name of the hero.
Gadir NASIROV,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Jamil HASANLI, doctor of historical sciences, professor
Nagorno-Karabakh: old misconceptions in new interpretation
(beginning in the previous issues)
As the result of negotiations held in Moscow and Erivania (present Erevan – red.), on 10 August, 1920 there was signed agreement consisting of six articles. Four articles of the agreement were dedicated to the artificially organized territorial conflict with Azerbaijan. At the second article it was mentioned that except of the lands defined by the agreement for location of army of Armenia, the soldiers of Soviet Union would settle in the disputable regions as Karabakh, Zangazur and Nakhchivan. The third article showed that “the settlement of Soviet army in the disputable lands wouldn’t affect to the problem of rights of Armenian Republic and Azerbaijani Socialist Soviet Republic on these territories. By the settlement of army in these lands, Soviet Union hopes to create propitious conditions for peaceful solution of territorial conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijani basing on the same things which would be attended by peaceful agreement which would be signed between RSFSR and Armenian Republic in the shortest time” (Text of agreement between RSFSR and Armenian Republic. 10.08.1920). The urgency of signing the agreement between Russia and Armenia was explained by that there had been also signed Treaty of Sevres agreement between Turkey and Triple Entente. Treaty of Sevres promised Armenians big dividends, and Russian soviet diplomacy feared of that Armenia could entirely appear under affection of Triple Entente. Treaty of Sevres was the main moment making G. Chicherin sign agreement with Armenia immediately. And the agreement which hadn’t been prepared as a diplomatic document at all, was signed under pressure of Moscow and the lands where were turned into disputable territories by Soviet Russia were promised to give to Armenia.
From the first day of sovietization of Azerbaijan there were held preparations for stating the undisputable lands of Azerbaijan as disputable which we saw also in Russian-Armenian agreement. At his telegram to V. I. Lenin and G. Chicherin sent to Azerbaijan on 19 June, 1920 G. Orjonikidze informed about this moment that Soviet regime was proclaimed splendidly in Karabakh and Zangazur and both of these lands were considered as parts of Azerbaijan. He warned: “Azerbaijan can’t exist without Karabakh and Zangazur. Generally, for my opinion, it would be advisable to call a representative from Azerbaijan to Moscow and solve all problems with his participation about Azerbaijan and Armenia and it should be done till signing agreement with Armenia” (Telegram of G. Orjonikize to V. I. Lenin and G. Chicherin. 19.06.1920). The agreement of 10 August signed between Soviet Russia and Armenia without notice of Azerbaijan was the result of the politics of Central Bolshevik leadership, especially National Committee of External Affairs of Soviet Russia directed on pinching the interests of Azerbaijan.
Somebody strongly wanted Armenia to win in the territorial conflicts between two countries. Some leading officials of the Centre didn’t shame of tricking and provocation for the underlined aim. Many before signing the agreement, G. Chicherin noticed the following to V. Lenin at his letter: “Azerbaijani government stated its pretension on Karabakh, Zangazur and Sharur-Daralayaz provinces with Nakhchivan, Ordubad and Julfa… Realization of this tactic by Russian army is completely unacceptable. Our role must be absolutely objective and impartial. It would be a great mistake for whole our politics in the East if we started basing on one national element against another one. It would mean to give completely false form to the whole politics in the East to take away any part from Armenia and give it to Azerbaijan by our hands” (Copy of memorial letter to V. I. Lenin. 29.06.1920, p. 13-14).Chicherin could wear official form to some of his suggestions and he ordered not to let Azerbaijani and Armenian governmental bodies enter the disputable territories at his instruction sent to Revolutionary Military Soviet of Caucasus front from the name of CC. But the territories where were stated as disputable were Azerbaijan’s in real and existed under control of Azerbaijani governmental bodies. And it means that Chicherin’s order was rough disturbing of sovereign rights and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. As we see, hard days came for the new powers of Azerbaijan. From one side, obeying the revolutionary pathos, the
Azerbaijani soviet powers felt themselves close to Soviet Russia, from the other side, the lands which were belonging to Azerbaijan since the previous government undoubtedly, were taken away by workers-villagers of the ally. These processes had so charmless form that even soviet workers who were commanded to Azerbaijan by Moscow affirmed the injustice of the highlighted attitude for the republic. One of these witnesses, chairman of Soviet of National Economy of Azerbaijani SSR – N. Solovyov noted in his extensive report: “There were hopes in Moscow. But the peaceful negotiations with Georgia and Armenia which gave parts of Azerbaijani territories with Muslim population to these republics, strongly shook these hopes: Muslim population had such conclusion that Moscow not only controlled Azerbaijan, but also was granting Georgia and Armenia through Azerbaijan… The agreement with Armenia brought especially heavy expression which according a part of Azerbaijani territories with Muslim population was given, also the railway having important strategic and economical meaning and directly connecting Azerbaijan with Turkey was given. Even I don’t talk about common Muslims when some members of Azerbaijani CP explained this agreement as it was organized according to order of powerful Armenians in the Centre calling themselves as communists and in real appearing conscious or unconscious nationalists” (N. I. Solovyov’s information to V. I. Lenin. “Our politics in Azerbaijan during two months (May-June) after revolution”. 1920, p. 15).
(to be continued)
Nurani GASIMOVA, political analyist
History of Armenian terrorism
On March 11, 2005 the world paid tribute to those killed in bloody terrorist attacks in Madrid, which victims reached 200 people. Memorial services also were accompanied by anti-terrorist summit in Madrid. Spain has invited more than a hundred and a half of experts in the sphere of anti-terror and heads of 14 countries, which citizens became the victims of terrorist attack on March 11.
However, despite that in capital of Spain on the remembrance day of tragedy in Madrid railway stations, which journalist named as “European September 11”, there were a lot of talks about terror and ways to combat it, no one due to ethic considerations said that if September 11 is the day of a total war with terror, then tragedy in Spain, happened in thousand days after terrorist attack in the USA, has shown that state machine may be defeated in a fight with terrorists: after blasts in mined trains authorities in Spain informed that they withdraw their troops from Iraq and namely this was demanded by terrorists. And no one remember other date – March 15 of 1921. It was when European community for the first time demonstrated its readiness to “cave in” to terrorists.
First blood
On March 15 of 1921 on desert street Gardenbergshtrasse in quiet district of Berlin shots were heard. Later just a few eyewitnesses will retell that a young man shot into the elderly, well-dressed man and tried to run away, but he was captured barehanded. Policemen, who captured the “shooter” considered the case as very simple and “firm” and the verdict caused doubts not more than tomorrow’s sunrise.
The case was conveyed to court in only in June of the same year. At this moment, authorities of Germany made it clear that the case which seemed as “clear and simple” in fact is political, and consequently, the unexpected twists are quite possible. Murdered person was Talat pasha, former interior minister in government of Young Turks. And the killer was Armenian student Sogomon Teyleryan, who immediately declared that he took a revenge for “extermination of Armenians” in Ottoman empire – according to Armenian “researchers” the mythic order on extermination of Armenians was given namely by Talat pasha.
Legal proceedings lasted for three days and became almost a classic case proving that if the politics starts to dictate to law, proceedings turn into a farce. Germany did not regained yet from shock of Versailles treaty, which became the clear illustration to known postulate “Sorry for those defeated!”. Negotiations “settling” post-war order in Europe were underway in the international arena and it was not profitable to “tense” relations with winner-countries and the trial of Sogomon Teyleryan gave a unique chance to “gain favor” of winners on the expense of Turkey. Besides Armenian activists made titanic efforts to turn the process into show-trial. Immediately the fund of Sogomon Teyleryan was created into which the “gold streams” of donations were flown. Lawyers and “public activists” widely speculated the theme of “genocide”. They displayed, in particular, “original” telegrams and stated as if they contain the order on “extermination of Armenians” signed by Talat pasha.
History of these “telegrams” was repeatedly described later in media, including our newspaper. At first, some telegrams as if proving the fact of “genocide” of Armenians were published in British newspaper Daily Telegraph in 1919, and it was stated that they were discovered by occupation forces of General Allenbi in the same town of Aleppo. However, when Great Britain’s Foreign Office held own investigation, it turned out that these documents were fabricated by one of Armenian groups in Paris. Documents related to investigations of 1919 are kept in Great Britain archives up to now.
However, failure in London did not chill the heat of falsifiers. In a year period, in 1920, Armenian historian Aram Andonyan, who lived in Paris since 1915, published in France a book “Memoirs of Naim bey. Official Turkish documents about migration and massacre of Armenians”. In the book he displays another “documental evidences”, which as if prove the fact of existence of order by the Talat pasha, internal affairs minister in government of Young Turks, about extermination of Armenians. Andonyan stated that he had received those documents from Ottoman state person from town Aleppo (at present Khaleb in Syria), who acquired them by official channels. Photo copies of these “documents” are shown in museum of “genocide of Armenians” in Yerevan. Later he declared that he had “lost” originals of those telegrams. In any case, according to opinion of historians “proofs” shown in the book are beneath any criticism. In another year these “telegrams” are shown in trial of Teyleryan and following to the opinion of British Foreign Office experts, the court experts in Berlin came to the conclusion disappointing for Armenians: neither paper on which “documents” are written, nor writing style can be considered as characteristic for Ottoman empire.
Later apologists of the theory “Ay data” – “Armenian trial over the Turkey” – will describe in detail as court in Berlin declared Teyleryan not guilty upon hearing his stories about “horrors of genocide”, while other researchers will oppose, stating that in fact, the court in Berlin did not justified Teleyryan, but judged him as mentally incompetent taking into account that he suffered nervous fit. In addition, judges in Berlin tried not to pay attention to emerged proofs that “mentally incompetent” Teyleryan was not alone in his actions.
(to be continued)
Tribune of the internally displaced person
Aggressor Armenia
– only responsible for all our troubles
Already the whole world knows that in 1992-1993 the Armenian armed forces occupied not only Nagorno-Karabakh which is historical part of Azerbaijan and which Armenians want to include in structure of Armenia, but also the areas which never are a part of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Among these occupied areas there is also my native Kelbajar.
Kelbajar – one of paradise places of Azerbaijan, the area has a beautiful and rich nature, healthy air and water, with fertile surface and underground reserves of natural resources. It is enough to remind only rich deposits of gold and world famous sanatorium Istisu to estimate economic value of this area for Azerbaijan. I don’t speak about its strategic value.
Occupation of our area, certainly, has tremendous impact on life of locals. In Kelbajar, as far as I know, population made about 55 thousand people which as a result of occupation turned into internally displaced persons and found a temporary shelter in hundreds settlements of 56 other areas and the cities of the republic and long time lived in intolerable conditions in tents, dugouts, on farms, on roadsides, in railway cars, in office buildings. The same fate comprehended also members of my family, relatives and friends. The last parted about the country, we were compelled to lodge in the city of Ganja temporarily.
Here we found a shelter in a yard of one of locals and lodged in the room intended for the maintenance of cattle and we “live” here for 20 years. Probably, there is no need to explain what everyday conditions for a family consisting of five people can be here. In the room two beds somehow take place. Here we both sleep, eat, and guests receive. Because of extreme narrowness my children remain with relatives. Whether it is possible to call it life?
About the heaviest living conditions of a family I addressed to the leaders of our district, the city of Ganja, the State Committee for the internally displaced persons. But while no changes are present. In the city the called State Committee built houses for the internally displaced persons. We are still here and did not get home. I understand there are a lot of families like mine, and to place all of them very difficult. But we also have to live…
What do we do here? After all I also had a house in Kelbajar, there were all conditions, let not comfortable, but sufficient for normal life. Who is guilty for our troubles, of broken our life? Certainly, the only responsible – aggressive Armenia, dreaming of creation mythical “Great Armenia” in our lands. Let those who makes the plans for misfortune of innocent people will be damned all!
Abbas ABISHOV,
internally displaced person from Kelbajar district