Flag is a symbol of national identity, symbol of our people’s victory

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Published on Tuesday, 14 November 2017 06:33

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Valuable exhibits are preserved in the Museum of State Flag

One of the dignified, endless feelings of our people is undoubtedly the love of the flag. Historically, this love has been a great feeling for the Azerbaijani people, and it has become a great value. The flag, which reflects the integrity of the country, the independence of the nation, has been regarded as the national ideology of the nation’s national identity, language, culture, spiritual and moral morality.

On November 17, 1990 by the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev the tricolor flag of the independent Azerbaijan Republic was raised. After the national leader’s return to political power in Azerbaijan for the second time in 1993, our flag was approved as a symbol of our national sovereignty. Since then, many laws and orders have been signed on protection and preservation of our flag. Today, as a continuation of our respect for our sacred flag, which is the bearer of our statehood and national values, a number of commendable works are being carried out by the relevant orders of the President and large-scale measures are being taken. Establishing the Flag Square in the capital city of Baku is a sign of love and respect for our flag. In this respect, the Order “On the Establishment of the State Flag Square and Museum in the city of Nakhchivan”, signed by Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on August 22, 2014, is of great importance.

Recently, we visited the State Flag Square and Museum which was opened with the participation of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis on November 17, 2014. We got acquainted with the exhibits exhibited in the museum. Isfendiyar Ismayilov, acting as the director of the museum, said that the State Flag of each country embodies its independence. Consequently, the attitude towards the flag has been vividly demonstrated throughout history in Azerbaijan and has been considered a symbol of the nation’s existence. The state symbols, flags and maps exhibited at the State Flag Museum located on the highest peak of the city of Nakhchivan offer a great opportunity to learn about our statehood history.

My interlocutor noted that Nakhchivan’s autonomy is one of the most valuable resources. Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has its own statehood attributes, as well as ancient states founded in this historical territory of Azerbaijan. “Regulation on Nakhchivan Soviet Socialist Republic” adopted in 1924 and in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic’s constitutions of 1926, 1937 and 1978 the provisions about the state emblem and flag were reflected, their descriptions were given. For the first time, the 1998 Constitution included the National Anthem, along with the State Flag and Emblem of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The Regulations of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and the constitutions adopted during the autonomy, as well as “Atlas of Nakhchivan History”,  “Alexandropol, Moscow and Kars treaties”, “Nakhchivan history” multi-volume, “Anniversaries of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic” published during the independence of our country are important for learning the history of Nakhchivan autonomy.

During the review of the museum, the flags adopted as state attributes at different times exhibiting in the museum exhibits attracted our attention. Here we learned that Nakhchivan was not yet granted the status of autonomy while adopting the flag of Nakhchivan Public Councils Republic. On December 30, 1922, the first flag of the Nakhchivan SSR was approved on the descaription of the first flag of the Azerbaijan SSR and the decree on the using of the Latin alphabet with the same right as the Arabic alphabet was approved on the basis of the decree of the Central Executive Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR. According to the Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR, adopted in 1927, the "Social" word on the flag of the Nakhchivan Soviet Socialist Republic was replaced with the word "Socialist" and was adopted as the flag of Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Constitution adopted on September 18, 1937.

The warlike flag of the Kangarli cavalcade, as well as the flags of the state of Eldaniz, belonging to different periods starting from the 12th century, in showcases placed in the central part, the coat of arms and flag of the Nakhchivan khanate, the honorary flag of the Kengerli cavalries, the coat of arms of Nakhchivan administration, pictures of coins minted in Nakhchivan and used in cash circulation are some of the interesting exhibits exhibited in the museum. Speaking about the exhibit reflecting the Emblem and the text of the National Anthem on the tree displayed in the museum, my interlocutor said that this exhibit was donated by the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

In addition to the flags, the maps are also displayed at the museum. The administrative-political map of the Republic of Azerbaijan belongs to different periods, maps of Azerbaijan Eldanizlar, founded in XII century, Nakhchivan Khanate of 1747-1828, Araz-Turk Republic, Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and the map reflecting the administrative-territorial division of Nakhchivan is in the exposition. The exposition also houses honorary titles, medals and badges of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The memorial  photo of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the youth who raised the state flag at the opening of the museum and the photo on the awarding the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the order of “Friendship of Peoples” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 1974  and sticking this order into the flag of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic by national leader Heydar Aliyev are some of the valuable exhibits of the museum.

Our interlocutor also noted that the State Flag Museum is located in the tallest part of the city of Nakhchivan. Heights of the state flag waving in the square is 20 meters, width is 10 meters and heights of the flagpole is 57 meters. The museum building built around the flag pole is octahedral. At present, 148 out of 159 exhibits are exhibited and 11 of them are kept in the museum's fund.

It should be noted that the State Flag Square and Museum in Nakhchivan have became a sacred destination that has always been visited by Nakhchivan and its guests. It has already become a tradition to hold various events here. Within the framework of “Days of Museums”, the collectives of ministries, committees, agencies, enterprises and organizations of the autonomous republic visits the museum and they are given detailed information about our state and military flags. Holding inauguration ceremonies of newly-appointed civil servants here in order to enhance our sense of respect for the flag will enable them to have more information about our flag.

Flag is our past, our present and the sign of future, the symbol of our national identity, the triumphal crown of our people. Let our triangular flag we sticked into the graves of martyrs, bowed before it, always raised to peaks then wave forever and proudly on our free and independent Azerbaijan!

                                                                          Gülcamal TAHİROVA

                                                             Newspaper “Sharq qapisi” (Eastern Gate)

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