Azerbaijan is marking the 20th anniversary of independence it achieved after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Supreme Council of the Azerbaijani Republic demanded independence on August 20, 1991. A Constitutional Act was passed on October 18, declaring independence. A referendum was held on December 29.
The State Hymn was passed by the parliament in May 1992 (music by Uzeir Hajibeyli, words – Ahmed Javad). A flag and the national symbol of an 8-point star were chosen later.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the nation and noted success achieved in the last 20 years.
The president reminded about the hardships of the first years of independence in 1991-1993. People saw their salvation with National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who helped development of the state in the 1970s and 1980s.
Azerbaijani Minister for Economic Development Shakhin Mustafayev talked about economic achievements in the last 20 years in an article called “The national model for socio-economic development” published by the “Azerbaijan” paper. He said that $100 billion had been invested.
Interior investments were 47.5% of capital investments in 2000. The indicator increased 16.3-fold in 10 years and reached 75.7% in 2010. Foreign investments rose 4.7-fold. Private sector has an 80% share of the GDP.
Azerbaijan increased socio-economic support 30.8-fold, economic development – 93-fold, wages, pensions and grants – over 52-fold. Income of the population increased 2.4-fold, an average wage – 107-fold.
Income per capita increased 16.2-fold and reached $3,650 in 2010. The greatest achievement is reduction of poverty from 49% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2010.
