24 January 2005

Host – Togrul: The Association for the Development of Civil Society in Azerbaijan has come to a decision to hold an international campaign under the motto “Baku – Hero City.” The “Human Rights in the XXI Century – Azerbaijan” Foundation, member of the Association, has been one of the generators of this decision. We have invited the president of the Foundation Mr. Enver Kafarli to speak in our program.

Enver-muallim, will you share a few words about the initiative?

E.Kafarli:As you are well aware, the entire progressive mankind is getting ready to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory over the Fascism Germany. In this regard and considering the significant input of Baku to this historic victory, the “Association for the Development of Civil Society in Azerbaijan”, embracing our Foundation among its other members, has decided to conduct an international action to the end of obtaining for Baku the status of a “Hero City”.

Host – Togrul: Enver Kafarli also believes that but for the Baku oil there would have hardly been a victory over the Nazi.

E.Kafarli: It is a clearly evident fact that but for the heroism of the Azerbaijan people and Baku’s oil workers a victory would hardly been achieved. Therefore, the status of a “Hero City” should have been awarded to Baku a long time ago. Despite the fact that such initiative was repeatedly brought up during the Soviet power, the status has not been bestowed on the pretext that Baku had not been a frontier city at the time of the war.

Host – Togrul: Enver-muallim, there are so many cities that were had been ruined by the fascists and then restored, but have never got this status?

E.Kafarli: To be destroyed or ruined and then restored is one thing, but to be a guarantor of victory is another. The entire world knows that the victory was attained at the expense of the Baku oil and its courageous people. At the time of the war, oilmen worked around the clock, slept by oil derricks, providing a non-stop supply of oil for to the frontline. Is that not a true heroism?

Host – Togrul: If such a status if granted, what benefit will it bring to Baku?

E.Kafarli: A lot. The historic heroism of Baku will reach its fair appreciation. By a reward of such a title Baku will officially enter into the annals of history as a “Hero City”, which will be the manifestation of justice.

Host – Togrul: Veterans’ organizations of Azerbaijan have also supported the initiative.

Veteran Aliyev – Baku has every right to be awarded the status of a “Hero City”, at the very least for its uninterrupted supply of oil to the entire frontline during the Great Patriotic War, to say nothing of other merits. Baku has well deserved this title.

Host – Togrul: Enver-muallim, who will bestow this title on Baku?

E.Kafarli: First and foremost, there is Russia, a country that is a successor of the former USSR. Secondly, there is the Commonwealth of Independent States constituted of the states which have gained independence. There are also “Hero Cities” – Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and others – and all these organizations and cities have Great Patriotic War Committees and councils. We are going to appeal to these organizations for support in this matter. Baku, as the whole of Azerbaijan, has the moral right to bear the title of a Hero City.

Host – Togrul: Enver-muallim, we thank you for being a guest at our program and for your interview.

E.Kafarli: Thank you very much.