The Republican Alternative condemns accusation of the Azerbaijan People's Republic by the President Ilham Aliyev and considers it as an unfounded accusation stemming from the authoritarian rule position.
Thus, on December 24 in Sumgait Ilham Aliyev accused Azerbaijan People's Republic in the crime druing a speech at the opening ceremony of a new residental building for Karabakh war veterans and martyrs' families: "In 1918, one of the first decisions of Azerbaijan People's Republic was about giving Yerevan to Armenia as the capital city...Today, I would like to say that, this was a big mistake and it was a great crime..."
The establishment of the Republic of Azerbaijan has taken place outside the country, in Tbilisi. At that time, the founders of the first democratic and secular state in East did not control the country's territories. After the massacres of March 1918, a large part of Azerbaijani territory was under the control of Bolshevik-Dashnak forces. Therefore, the fisrt task of the founders of the republic was to liberate the country from the occupation of Shaumyan for who Heydar Aliyev solemnly conducted the 100th anniversary as a national hero in the past. The founders of the republic have successfully implemented this task, they liberated Baku from the enemy with diplomatic and military efforts. After that, Azerbaijan People's Republic had succeeded in recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan. In 1919, the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh officially accepted the obedience of Azerbaijan and also Karabakh general-governor was established. At the same time, a part of Zangezur Armenian considered themselves as a subject of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In this regard, Azerbaijan People's Republic has not lost territory since the declaration, in fact has succeeded to release a significant part of the occupied territories.
Considering all of this, the Republican Alternative wants to remin the government that, the 5 of the regions of the country outside the Nagorno-Karabakh region, were lost during this government and after this loss the current government has signed a cease-fire.
Our lands have been under occupation for more than 20 years. Ilham Aliyev has been the immediate president for more than 10 years, but there is no slightest progress towards the liberation of territories. Instead of pasting "criminal" label to the heritage of Azerbaijan People's Republic by completely wrong interpretation of history, it would be more appropriate for Ilham Aliyev to think of these issues.
The Republican Alternative Movement declares that, the foundation of the present Republic of Azerbaijan was established by the leaders of Azerbaijan People's Republic. Calling the persons who established the country's first republic, who declared the independence criminals is derived from the attitude of the current government to the democratic values. The values and philosophy of Azerbaijan People's Republic with democratic governance are completely alien to the current government which controls the country with authoritarian methods. Because those in power consider the state thier personal property, but the founders of our republic has sacrificed themselves to the idea of the state of Azerbaijan, its independence and democratic values.
Unlike this government the Republican Alternative Movement expresses Azerbaijan People's Republic as the successor of our Republic in sincere and principal way. The people of Azerbaijan has restored the independence of Azerbaijan by fighting in the maydans when Ilham Aliyev was not in Azerbaijan. We, the Republican Alternative Movement, declare that, will restore the democracy of our Republic with the support of the people of Azerbaijan in the near future!
Baku
26.12.2012