Honorable Nation of Azerbaijan
We, the undersigned, as part of the political, cultural, and social activists of Azerbaijan, consider it our national duty—drawing upon the century-long struggles for freedom, identity, and justice of the nation of Azerbaijan—to present a set of specific demands of the people of Azerbaijan (including the provinces of Azerbaijan and adjacent Turkish-inhabited regions). Through this, we aim to propose criteria and benchmarks that the public may use in making their electoral choices.
It should be noted that presenting these demands reflects a determination toward the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan and Turkish-inhabited regions of the country. We hope, by incorporating expert opinions, to further develop and operationalize this proposal and to compile and publish a coherent body of our national principles and perspectives in the near future.
Demands
- Education in the mother tongue and the teaching of Turkish language and literature in schools in Turkish-inhabited regions of the country.
- Allocation of national budget resources to Azerbaijan proportional to its population, as well as assigning 5% of the total national budget as a special fund to fully address underdevelopment caused by past discriminatory policies.
- Removal of barriers to the growth and expansion of production and trade, with the aim of restoring Azerbaijan’s position as a commercial-industrial hub of the country.
- Establishment of a regional (state-level) parliament in Tabriz and provincial parliaments in the centers of Azerbaijan’s provinces to address regional issues efficiently and systematically.
- Decentralization in political, economic, and cultural spheres from the capital, and granting authority for internal administration of Azerbaijan to locally elected officials.
- Granting the people of the region the right to elect representatives to regional parliaments, as well as governors and local officials.
- Protection of citizens' rights to hold peaceful assemblies and provision of appropriate services and facilities for national ceremonies commemorating national events and honoring national heroes and figures in Azerbaijan.
- Serious efforts to combat anti-Turkish ideologies and their agents as a primary source of division, in order to ensure unity and public security.
- Acceleration of construction projects including: the Urmia Lake causeway, the Zanjan–Tabriz–Europe highway, and the Mianeh–Ardabil–Astara–Baku railway (North–South international corridor), as well as Ardabil–Mughan and Maragheh–Urmia–Europe railways, in accordance with approved timelines.
- Establishment of free trade-industrial zones in Astara, Mughan, Sofian, Maku, and Sulduz (Naqadeh).
- Serious action against rising unemployment and drug addiction among youth by creating educational and job opportunities, facilitating marriage, and providing sports, cultural, and recreational facilities.
- Creating suitable conditions to attract foreign investment in tourism, industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, trade, and other sectors.
- Renovation of villages at risk of abandonment and factories facing closure, and addressing the severe economic conditions of workers, rural populations, nomads, low-income groups, and urban marginalized communities.
- Support and strengthening of the carpet industry, processing and packaging industries for agricultural products, and removal of customs tariffs to boost exports.
- Development of tourism infrastructure, especially through investment in areas such as Soltaniyeh, Kataleh Khor Cave (Zanjan), Ali Sadr Cave (Hamedan), Sheikh Safi complex (Ardabil), Sarein mineral waters, Savalan, Mughan and Talesh tourism zones, Qaradagh forests, western Caspian coasts, Babak Castle, Tabriz Bazaar complex, Arg-e Alishah and Blue Mosque, Lake Urmia region, Sahand Winter Olympic Village, Hasanlu Hill, Takht-e Soleyman, and Baghcheh-Jooq in Maku.
- Serious earthquake preparedness measures, considering Azerbaijan’s seismic vulnerability, including renovation of worn-out urban and rural structures and reinforcement of historical and important buildings.
- Protection of natural resources and environmental sustainability, including allocating international environmental funds (e.g., UN budget) to Tabriz as the country’s second most polluted city.
- Job creation to prevent excessive migration, brain drain, and capital outflow, and to encourage the return of previous migrants by providing adequate welfare and employment opportunities.
- Defense of the rights of children and women based on international conventions.
- Support and incentives (material and moral) for athletes, and provision of sports facilities and infrastructure across all cities.
- Consideration of Azerbaijan’s historical, cultural, and economic interests in foreign policy and international relations.
- Establishment of at least one nationwide radio-television network, one news agency, and two widely circulated state newspapers in Turkish, given the widespread use of the language in the country.
- Establishment of an Academy of Turkish Language and Literature and creation of related academic programs in universities.
- Official recognition of the Turkish language in administrative and judicial institutions, given the large number of speakers across the country.
- Restoration of historical place names (including restoring the name “Azerbaijan” in accordance with constitutional-era divisions to provinces such as Ardabil and Zanjan) and removal of restrictions on Turkish naming (for children, businesses, etc.).
- Abolition of any policies that may alter the demographic balance of the indigenous population in West Azerbaijan.
- Support for Azerbaijani performing arts, visual arts, and music; establishment of faculties of arts, conservatories, philharmonics, theaters, and museums; and introduction of Azerbaijani music programs in universities.
- Removal of bureaucratic obstacles to the formation and free activity of political parties, groups, and NGOs at national and regional levels, and protection of freedom of expression.
We firmly believe that all these demands can be achieved within the existing system, provided there is goodwill from the authorities. Their publication on the eve of the elections is intended with this purpose.
We emphasize that the omission of any cultural, economic, social, or political aspects of this plan, or the imposition of geographic limitations or discrimination in its implementation, would amount to opposition to the development and progress of Azerbaijan.
30 May 2005 (30/02/1384 in the Iranian calendar)