Language planning situation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is one of the newly independent multiethnic Caucasian states, where with ethnic Azerbaijanis live various ethnic group: Avars, high-land Jews, Kurds, Lezgins, Russians, Tatars, Tats, Talyshs, Tsakhurs, Udins, Ukrainian and so on. The representatives of these ethnic groups reside together with ethic Azerbaijanis in different zones of Azerbaijan. They represent the linguistic minorities. The linguistic majority of Azerbaijan composes ethnic Azerbaijanis, who make up 82.7% of the population (the 1989 census). The citizens of the Republic constitute a single sociocultural community - the people of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan was always multilingual population, because of the specific geographical position of Azerbaijan, which is between Asia and Europe. Permanent migrations of people passed through its territor. Therefore Azerbaijan was a zone of active contact of nations, cultures and languages where bilingualism spread.

In the 19th century, Azerbaijan was colonized and divided during between Russia and Iran. Russian language was a state language of the Russian Empire. In spite of the efforts of the official authority, it could not effectively play the role of an international language, because its social significance in the minds of native people, especially in countryside was very low, Azerbaijani language was widely used in the whole territory of Azerbaijan during that period.

In the period from 1922 to 1991, Azerbaijan was a member of the USSR as one of the union republics. The Russification policy that spread in all the republic of the former Soviet Union was reflected in the linguistic situation of Azerbaijan. The fact was the cultural and linguistic situation throughout Soviet Union made it impossible for those who did not speak Russian to get a good job in state and party institutions. There existed a real threat to the very existence of the languages, not only linguistic minorities, whose mother tongues differ from that of the official dominant language in their union republic, but also linguistic majorities of each republic. So although in Azerbaijan the old Constitution had already been amended in 1978, declaring Azerbaijani to be the official language within the republic, this regulation did not function and Azerbaijani language was not used in the work of the government bodies, organizations, enterprises, institutions and so on. The language of the official office-work and correspondence was Russian.

Azerbaijan became an independent state with a presindential form of government in 1991. It is a multi-ethnic state based on the ideal of common citizenship and organised around linguistic majority.

It is necessary to note, that many ethnic communities of Azerbaijan residing outside their republics are bilingual. Some of these ethnic groups speak Russian language fluently according to the data 1970, 1979 and 1989 Census these are Ukrainians, Tatars, Tats, Udins, others speak the Azerbaijani language fluently: these are Lezgins, Avars, Talyshs, Kurds.Undeer such conditions it is very important to elaborate issues on language policy in the transition period. The process of language legislation has just begun in Azerbaijan.

Beginning with the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic from September 16, 1992 "On protection of the rights and freedoms of national minorities, small-numbered peoples and ethnic groups living in the Azerbaijan Republic and on rendering state assistance to the development of their languages and cultures" the government will solv step by step a complex of questions such as state assistance for preservation and the development of the cultural, linguistic and religious originality of ethnic groups, maintenance of their own national traditions and customs, the protection of the historical and cultural monuments of all nationalities and the free development of the national handicrafts, the professional and amateuer talent groups.

The law "Concerning State Language of Azerbaijan Republic" was adopted on December 22, 1992. The law stipulates official status for the Azerbaijani language in the whole territory of the state. It also guarantees the citizens of Azerbaijan the right to use any other national language on the territory of the republic. Special attention has been paid to the problem of choice of the language of education. Article 3 of the law establishes that every child has an inalienable right to mother tongue education. This right is ensured by the creation of a network of kindergartens and schools, with the language of education depending on the ethnic composition of the region's population.

By a resolution of the Republican Parliament from September 20, 1993 (#712), a Governmental Committee for internal national relations, and by the President's decree from March 12, 1993 (#486), a Governmental service of the Councellor of National Policy was created. This special consultative council acts under the jurisdiction of the Governmental Councellor's service which consist of the representatives of the various national minorities, small-numbered nationalities and ethnic groups.

In the new Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic (November 12, 1995) the official language is also the Azerbaijani language, at the same time it is noted, that the State guarantees preservation, the free use, cultivation and development of other languages of the Republic's population (article 21). The problem of the choice of the language of education is also given attention in this document. Citizens of Azerbaijan Republic have a right of free choice of the language of education. In the 45th Article there is the provision talking about the right to use the mother tongue. Everyone may receive education in his/her mother tongue and use this language in his/her creative works. Nobody can be deprived of using of their mother tongue.

The Republic has the Institute of internal national relations of the Academy of Science, where there is a division in order to solve problems of national minorities.

Year after year there is a growing number of cultural centers and societies of different ethnic groups: the Republican Society of solidarity of Nations of Azerbaijan "Commonwealth"; the Center of Slavic Culture of the Azerbaijan; the Society of "Russian Community", the National Center of Lezghins "Samur"; the Cultural Center of Tats "Azeri"; the Kurdish Cultural Center "Ronayi", the Republican Avarian Society by the name "Imam Shamil"; the Tatar Cultural Center "Tugan Tel"; the Cultural Center of Tsakhurs; the Society of Turks-Meskhetins "Vatan": the Cultural Center "Dagestan"; the Cultural Center of Udins "Orayin"; a Charity Center "Budugs", a Community of European Jews; a Community of High-land Jews; a community of Georgian Jews etc. Their activity is being realized by financing from the State Budget and Presidential Fund (it was 230 million manats last year).

State Radio Broadcasts are in Azerbaijani, Russian, Georgian, Lezghin, Kurdish and Talysh languages.State television programmes are in Azerbaijani. Russian television programmes can be also seen in Azerbaijan. In the settlements where compact ethnic groups reside programmes are also in languages these ethnic groups.

There are a lot of newspapers, magazines, books, dictionaries and textbooks, which are published in languages of various ethnic groups. In 1996 various sorts of books have been published with a total circulation of 57.000 copies. Among them are ABC in six languages (in the Talysh language - 15.000 copies, in the Tat language - 5.000 copies, in the Kurd language - 2.000 copies, in the Lezghin language -8.000 copies, in the Udin language - 1.000 copies, in the Tsakhur language - 2.000 copies) and textbooks (for the third classes in the Udin language (1.000 copies) and in the Tat language (5.000 copies); for the second class in Lezghin language (8.000 copies); for the fourth class in Talysh language (10.000 copies). There have been also published books about history, traditions, languages and literature of some ethnic groups in their own languages.

According to the State Statistical Committee data of Azerbaijan Republic there are schools with three languages of education in Azerbaijan. These are Azerbaijani, Russian and Georgian languages. However, children of those ethnic groups, who reside compactly, are taught their own mother tongue. The ethnic groups are Talyshs, Lezghins, Tsakhurs, Avars, Udins, Khynalyg. During 1996-1997, 23.919 pupils were taught the Talysh language, 16.350 pupils the Lezghin language, 1.090 pupils the Tsakhur language, 4.082 pupils the Avar language, 517 pupils the Udin language and 162 pupils the Khynalyg language.

There is not much that the people and NGO's do to manage language. State institutions and the Academy of Science of Azerbaijan Republic are involved in this process for the present.

Thus, there is of mother tongue diversity in Azerbaijan and there are all pre-requisites for the protection and the further development of linguistic minorities without any attempt at assimilation against their will.

The Laws and other acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan
on the State language and the Languages' rights

Non official translation

The Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic
(November, 12, 1995)

Article 21. State Language.

The Azerbaijan language shall be the State language of the Azerbaijan Republic. The Azerbaijan Republic shall ensure the development of the Azerbaijan language. The Azerbaijan Republic shall guarantee the free use and development of other languages spoken by the population.

Article 25. Right to Equality.

Every Person shall be equal to the Law and Court. Men and Women shall have equal Rights and Freedoms. Every Person shall have equal Rights and Freedoms irrespective of race, nationality, religion, sex, origin,property status, social position, convictions, political party, trade union organization and social unity affiliation. Limitations or recognition of Rights and Freedoms because of race, nationality, social status, language origin, convictions and religion shall be prohibited.

Article 45. Right to Use Native Language.

Every Person shall have the right to use Native language. Everyone shall have the right to be raised and get an education, be engaged in creative activities in Native Language. No one can be deprived of the right to use Native Language.

Article 127. Principles of Justice.

10. Legal proceedings in the Azerbaijan Republic shall be conducted in the official language of the Azerbaijan Republic or in the language of the population which constitute the majority in the area concerned.
Persons - participants of court examination who do not know the language in which legal proceedings are held shall be guaranteed via the interpreter the right to get fully familiarized with the materials of the case, participate in legislative enactments and speak in the native language in the court.

Law of the Azerbaijan Republic on the renewal of the Azerbaijani alphabet with Latin graphic

As a result of large discussions and scientific disputes and under the recommendation of the first All-Union Turkic congress held in Baku in 1926 Azerbaijan people together with Turkic people accepted the alphabet with Latin graphic. Corresponding to the phonetic structure of Azerbaijan language and making an opportunity for the simplification of the orthographic rules, allowing to eliminate the illiteracy by mass order in a short time and extend scientific, cultural ties between the people Azerbaijan alphabet contrary the will of people and under the pressure of the Center was replaced with Cyrillic alphabet in 1939. This act being the logic continuation of mass repression of 30-s pursued an object to cut short the process of national self-consciousness of Turkic people and to achieve their gradual estrangement and disconnection.

Eliminating this historic injustice the National Board of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic decrees:

1. That Law of Azerbaijan SSR "On the transfer of Azerbaijan written language from Latin into Russian alphabet" of July, 11 1939 to be considered from this day as becoming invalid.

2. That the Azerbaijan alphabet including 32 letters with Latin graphic used in Azerbaijan until 1940 to be restored.

Baku, December, 25, 1991
# 33

Decree of the National Board of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Regarding the regulation of coming into force the
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the renewal of the Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic".

In accordance with the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "About the renewal of the Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic "National Board of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan decrees:

1. Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic containing 32 letters with some changes shall be formed up as the following:

Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic

2. Renewal of the Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic shall be carried out under the following stages:

In 1992 year:

To carry out the lessons on the new alphabet in the primary classes of secondary schools from September 1.
To organize optional lessons on the new alphabet with Latin graphic in high forms of secondary schools, technical colleges, secondary special and high schools .
To organize lectures on the study of the alphabet with Latin graphic for teachers and other workers in all educational institutions.
To take measures on providence the learning of the alphabet with Latin graphic by typists, proof - leaders, printing - house workers, newspapers and magazines workers, publish - houses workers.
Republican newspapers and magazines along with the Russian alphabet shall use the alphabet with Latin graphic.
To provide the conclusion of treaties with plants preparing the printing equipment units, purchasing and erection of such units.
To reconstruct gradually the prints in books and newspapers printing - houses and also in polygraph points of the ministries, institutions and other organizations .
To start reconstructing of shops producing the stamps, blanks and also renew stamps and blanks of all organizations.
To carry out the new edition of maps, to begin the preparing of new sign - boards of towns, districts, villages, streets, ID cards, statistics and other documentation.
To organize lectures on the republican TV propagandizing the alphabet with Latin graphic and its training. Give the names of telecasts, titles, advertisements in a new writings also.
To open the courses for those who want to learn the alphabet with Latin graphic.
To implement the alphabet with Latin graphic in the cultural centers.
The scientific - research institutes shall turn gradually to the new alphabet.
To prepare and print by Latin graphic orthographic dictionary of Azerbaijan language.
To create domiciliary training centers on education the alphabet with Latin graphic.
To provide gradually writing of street names, advertisements, institutions and plants names by Latin graphic.

In 1993:

To print on the alphabet with Latin graphic the books for the secondary and high schools .
To start the training of the alphabet with Latin graphic in the primary classes of the secondary schools.
To fulfill the implementation of the alphabet with Latin graphic in all spheres of educational system.
To accept the complex of measures in printing houses in accordance with the alphabet with Latin graphic: change the materials, fulfill reduction of the photo and computer systems, technical means of books and newspapers printing - houses in accordance with the new graphic.
To provide the printing of all republican newspapers, magazines, fictions, technical and public and other literature on the alphabet with Latin graphic.

3. To charge to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan to take the necessary organizational measures on the renewal the Azerbaijan alphabet with Latin graphic.

Baku, December 25, 1991
# 34.

The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the state language in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Republic of Azerbaijan considering the usage of the Turkic language as the state language one of the conditions of its sovereignty cares about appliance, perseverance and development, maintains Azeries living abroad to get the education in their native language and the usage of their national - cultural necessities.

This law establishes the legal status of Turkic language.

This law does not regulate the use of any other languages in interpersonal informal communications.

I. General conditions

Article 1. The state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the Turkic language. All governmental establishments run their work in the Turkic language. The Turkic language as the state language of the republic is used in all spheres of political, economic, public, scientific and cultural life and functions for international communication on the territory of the republic. The learning of the Turkic language by the representatives of other nationalities is appreciated and they get support for it.

Article 2. The legal status, the sphere of language usage in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the principles of the adoption of languages spoken by peoples living on its territory are determined by the supreme bodies of state power of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

II. The right of citizens to choose the language

Article 3. The citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are gurranted the right to choose the language for education.

Nationalities and ethnic minorities, living on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan have the right by means of governmental bodies of the republic to organize the pre - schools, secondary schools or separate classes, groups in their native language.

In the educational establishments with the study on any other language, the learning of the Turkic language which is the state language, as necessary subject is provided.

Article 4. The replies to the proposals, applications and complains of the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are given in the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Article 5. Jurisdiction matters and notary actions are run in the Turkic language. Persons, participating in the case, who do not know the language have the right to invite the translator and to participate in the court through the interpreter and take part on their native language.

Article 6. Official documents, ID cards or the information about it (passport, labor book, military book, graduation diplomas, certificates of birth, marriage, death, etc. are filled up in the Turkic language.

Article 7. Workers of service spheres ( trade, medical aid personnel, transport, international communication and etc.) shall use state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan during working hours . The evasion of service under the pretext of the lack of language knowledge is forbidden.

III. The language used by the state bodies, organizations

Article 8. The sessions Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be carries out in the Turkic language. The deputies of the Republic of Azerbaijan of other nationalities in case of not knowing the state language of the Azerbaijan Republic have the right to make statements in their language.

The law drafts and other legal documents submited to the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic, its commissions shall be in the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Article 9. The Laws and other legal documents adopted by the National Assembly of the Azerbaijan Republic, its commissions, by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan are published in the Turkic language.

Article 10. The official publications of acts of the state power bodies and authorities of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are published in the state language of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Article 11. The electoral documents for the elections of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, to the Supreme Council and local boards shall be prepared in the state language and in this language submitted to the central election committee.

Article 12. The activities of the Azerbaijan Republic state enterprises and organizations shall carry out in the Turkic language.

The texts of the forms, stamps and sign - boards with the name of the ministries, institutions, enterprises, organizations of the Azerbaijan Republic and of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic shall be formed in the Turkic language.

Article 13. For the purpose of providing the uninterrupted work of energy and transport systems (main railroad transport, air, marine, pipeline transport) during the dispatcher talks, preparing of the documents, reference information the Turkic language and the adopted international language shall be used.

Article 14. In the armed forces, internal troops and frontier-guards of the Azerbaijan Republic the state language of the Azerbaijan Republic shall be used .

IV.The language of information and the proper names

Article 15. On the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic and in the mass media besides the state language other languages can be used.

Advertisements, reports, and other visual information can be designed in the state language and if necessary simultaneously on the applicable international language.

The labels of the goods produced in the Azerbaijan Republic, the names of the industrial and food products, their instructions shall be written in the Turkic language and in required cases in the applicable foreign language.

Article 16. The names of populated points, administrative units and other geographical objects on the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic shall be written on the state language, the writings on the maps shall be established by state adopted information publications.

Article 17. The name of the state power bodies, ministries, state committees, institutions,, organizations and their branches shall be written in the Turkic language.

Article 18. The proper name of the citizen of the Azerbaijani nationality of the Azerbaijan Republic consists of his first name, father's name and sur name. The father's name shall used along with the words "ogli" and "gizi" . Every citizen has the right to get the sur name relating to his nationality.

The writing of the names and sur names of the representatives of other nationalities, living on the territory of the republic do not determined by this law.

V. The responsibility for the breaking the law on the state language

Article 19. The authorized persons of all state bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations are called to account determined by the legislature of the Azerbaijan Republic in case of breaking the law on the state language.

Baku, December 22, 1992
# 413

The Decree of the National Assembly of the Azerbaijan Republic

On implementation of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan
"On the state language in the Republic of Azerbaijan".

The National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan decrees:

1. To implement the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan" from the day of its publication.

2. To determine, that until the accomplishment the republican legislature in conformity with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the state language in the Republic of Azerbaijan", the existing legal acts of the Azerbaijan Republic which do not contradict to this law are used.

3. To assign the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan to bring the resolution of the government of the Azerbaijan Republic in conformity with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the state language in the Republic of Azerbaijan".

4. To charge the control for the execution of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the state language in the Republic of Azerbaijan" on the commission on education, science, religion and culture issues of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Baku, December 22, 1992
# 414

The Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

On defence of the rights and liberties of national minorities, small numbered peoples
and ethnic groups living inthe Republic of Aazerbaijan and on rendering state assistance
to the development of their languages and cultures

Taking into consideration the presence of national minorities, small numbered peoples and ethnic groups in the territory of the republic of Azerbaijan, the necessity of creating favorable conditions for their free development,

further improvement of inter-national relations in the republic, declaring the aim of raising them to the level of requirements of the legal state which is in the process of formation,

basing on the Article 19 of the Constitution of the republic of Azerbaijan on state sovereignty,

having in mind the necessity of realization personal liberty, legal equality of all the citizens irrespective of their properties, races and religions I decree;

1. The Cabinet of Ministers of the republic of Azerbaijan, ministries, organizations and heads of local executive bodies:

Consider thoroughly the tasks connected with national relations arising from the present decree within the frame of activities of ministries and organizations for taking an active part in the defense of political, economic, social, cultural rights and liberties of the representatives of the national minorities, small numbered peoples and ethnic groups living in the territory of the republic of Azerbaijan and their realization defined by the Constitution of the republic of Azerbaijan.

In accordance with the professional training of the representatives of national minorities, small numbered peoples and ethnic groups, having in mind the legal rights that they enjoy without any discrimination create all conditions for the realization of these rights, bar action or inertness aimed at violating these rights, increase attention to the examination of their oral and written applications and complaints connected with these issues.

2. To charge the apparatus of the President of the republic of Azerbaijan, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the ministries and organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, heads of local executive bodies as a task with the mission of the state assistance and government policy in the following directions;

to safeguard and develop the cultural, linguistic and religious specification of the nations in minority, small numbered peoples and ethnic groups, to perform religious rituals and ceremonies in complete freedom,

to develop independently national crafts, professional and amateur arts, national trades;

to protect historical and cultural monuments of all nations;

to protect and preserve lands, reservations, parks and other objects of nature which are important for the population.

3. To charge the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the ministries of culture, people's education, finance and justice, heads of executive bodies of cities and districts with the errand:

to organize cultural and religious institutions and societies of all nations and to create conditions for providing their legal functioning and to take all measures for them in accordance with the legislation of the republic of Azerbaijan;

to render state assistance to these institutions, societies and unions, including the suit ability of providing them with buildings and financial support.

4. To commission the Ministry of Justice of the republic of Azerbaijan to prepare the law draft of the rights of the national minority, small numbered peoples and ethnic groups living in the Republic of Azerbaijan and introduce it to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in a one month.

5. To commission the Ministry of Justice of the republic of Azerbaijan and the State Frontiers Protection Committee to prepare the law draft simplifying passages of frontiers for the representatives of all nations in order to meet their compatriots freely in territories of other states and introduce it to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in a one month.

To commission the Cabinet of Ministers of the republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other corresponding bodies to prepare proposals for concluding bilateral and multilateral treaties with the interested states.

6. To commission the Ministry of People's Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan to implement measures providing the learning of languages and literatures of national minorities on the basis of secondary school curriculum in the areas of their compact residence and in the form of optional lessons in the cities of Baku and Sumgayit.

Taking into account the transformation of the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages into the Azerbaijan State Institute of Languages to create there a department of philology of the small numbered peoples and a corresponding chair.

To prepare professional specialists for the Daghestanian Turks, local population and small numbered peoples in Guba branch of the M.A.Aliyev Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts, in Gusar branch of the M.A.Sabir Pedagogical School after.

To prepare and introduce corresponding proposals for concessive admission to higher educational institutions and secondary special schools the youth from the mountainous parts of the republic, small numbered peoples and our compatriots living abroad.

7. To found chairs and departments of Semitilogy, antique languages, Caucasian studies in the Academy of Sciences of the republic of Azerbaijan, in the M.A.Rasulzade Baku State University providing the learning of the ancient roots of the peoples living in the Azerbaijan (including the South Azerbaijan), their historical evolution, languages and literatures and on the level of requirements of world standards, to prepare skilled specialists able to study and investigate the historical heritage of Shumers, Elam, Manna, Medea, Albania, Sanscrit, Hunns, Khazars and other ancient ethnos. To invite foreign specialists and to send students, post-graduates, scientists to well-known research centres and educational institutions for this purpose at the expense of the state budget.

8. The ministries of people's education and culture of the republic of Azerbaijan render assistance to enliven crafts and arts, amateur arts, ancient trades of the small numbered peoples, to create libraries, shops of craftsmanship studying.

9. To charge the State Committee of Press and Poligraphy of the republic of Azerbaijan pay attention to the publication of educational literature, reference books and fiction in the languages of small numbered peoples.

Taking into account the absence of periodicals on national relations of the republican importance to publish a weekly newspaper by name of "Elin sasi" ("The Voice of People") attached to the counselor's service on the international relations of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to enlighten the lives and activities, labor and spiritual world of peoples, to develop their languages and cultures.

10. The State Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation organize tele-radio programs for enlightening the literatures, folklores, labor and lives of the small numbered peoples and ethnic groups living in Azerbaijan, provide broadcasting of the ''Republican News'' in the Lezghi, Talish and Kurdish languages, broadcast daily programs through local radios in the languages of less numerous peoples.

11. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan provide the financing of measures providing the rendering of state assistance for the development of languages and literatures of peoples under this decree.

12. The heads of executive bodies of Baku, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Zagatala and Gabala shall provide the national cultural centres of the Jewish, Slavic, Lezghi, Talish, Avar, Udin and other small numbered peoples and ethnic groups with buildings or service rooms.

13. To commission the Counseling Board on inter-national relations of the President apparatus of the Republic of Azerbaijan to prepare corresponding measures and proposals for improving inter-national relations, as well as the realization of the authority of president and the solution constructive problems arising from the present decree.

14. To commission the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan prevent any action aimed at racial discrimination, national exclusive ness and national priority, at stirring up national hatred enmity and make the culprits answerable for these actions in accordance with the law.

Baku,September 16, 1992
# 213

* * *

Language planning situation in Azerbaijan	-	Gulshan M. Pashayeva
Laws and other acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the State language and the Languages' rights	-	Conflict Research Center
On the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict	-	Fuad R. Akhundov
Can NGOs Build Bridges?	-	Gulshan Pashayeva and Rena Safaraliyeva
For recent publications of Gulshan Pashayeva see >>>