{"id":68594,"date":"2026-09-19T20:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T20:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=68594"},"modified":"2026-09-19T20:33:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T20:33:37","slug":"september-20-symbol-of-azerbaijans-sovereignty-and-territorial-integrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/september-20-symbol-of-azerbaijans-sovereignty-and-territorial-integrity\/","title":{"rendered":"September 20 \u2013 Symbol of Azerbaijan\u2019s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Tazeen Akhtar | Islamabad<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For any nation, sovereignty is the highest value. For the Republic of Azerbaijan, September 20 embodies this value in its truest form. State Sovereignty Day is described as a symbol of the centuries-long struggle of the Azerbaijani people for independence, the restoration of constitutional order, and the affirmation of unity. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev signed on September 19, 2024, September 20 is now observed annually as the State Sovereignty Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.This is not just a date on the calendar. It is the culmination of a 30-year-long national struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering determination to restore justice and constitutional order.<\/p>\n

From Occupation to Liberation : The Historical Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the early 1990s, the Republic of Armenia pursued an aggression policy against Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the UN Charter. Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan\u2019s internationally recognized territory, carried out ethnic cleansing, destroyed cities and villages, and committed the Khojaly tragedy. losangeles.<\/p>\n

For nearly three decades, the Preamble of the Constitution of Azerbaijan \u2013 which declares the protection of state independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as its foremost objective \u2013 could not be enforced over those lands.<\/p>\n

Ending this occupation became the central goal of the national idea of Azerbaijan. The turning point came on September 27, 2020. In response to Armenia\u2019s new provocations, the 44-day Patriotic War began.<\/p>\n

Under the leadership of Victorious Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces achieved a historic victory, liberating Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, and the cultural capital Shusha on November 8, 2020, and implementing the UN Security Council resolutions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The 23-Hour Operation that Restored Full Sovereignty<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the 2020 victory, remnants of Armenian armed forces remained in the Karabakh economic region, posing a threat to peace and constitutional order.To prevent further large-scale provocations and to restore constitutional order, the Azerbaijani Army conducted a local anti-terror operation on September 19, 2023. The operation lasted just 23 hours and concluded on September 20.<\/p>\n

With high professionalism and heroism, the operation forced the illegal armed groups to surrender, disarmed them, and dissolved the so-called occupying regime in Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend and Aghdara. As a result, the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan was fully restored across its entire territory and the Azerbaijani flag now flies proudly in every corner of the country.<\/p>\n

President Ilham Aliyev rightly stated: \u201cExactly one year ago, the heroic Azerbaijani Army fully restored state sovereignty. International law triumphed and Azerbaijan demonstrated its strength once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Constitutional Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The path to sovereignty is also linked to Azerbaijan\u2019s state-building journey. After the chaos of 1991-1993, National Leader Heydar Aliyev restored stability and laid the foundation for a modern state. On November 12, 1995, the first Constitution of independent Azerbaijan was adopted by referendum, becoming the legal backbone protecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n

This year Azerbaijan celebrates the 30th anniversary of that historic Constitution. September 20, therefore, symbolizes the full enforcement of that Constitution on all Azerbaijani lands.<\/p>\n

Armenia Azerbaijan ” Peace Bridge Initiative” | A Comparison with India Pakistan CBMs – by Tazeen Akhtar<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n