Our first national Constitution, prepared in 1995 under the direct leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and adopted on November 12, 1995, by referendum with the overwhelming majority of votes of almost the entire Azerbaijani people after nationwide discussions, remains the main pillar of our statehood today. Undoubtedly, as the fundamental law, the Constitution constitutes the foundational pillar of every state. This Constitution, whose 30th anniversary we are currently celebrating, is also the strong legal basis for the protection of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, the strengthening of a legal and secular state, the provision of decent living conditions for citizens, and the development of friendly and cooperative relations on the international stage.
Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev stated this at an international conference held in a round table format titled "On Guard of Sovereignty: The Status of the Prosecutor's Office in the Constitution".
Kamran Aliyev noted that, considering the exceptional importance of the Constitution in the history of national statehood, November 12 is celebrated annually as Constitution Day in our country, based on the Decree dated November 1, 1996: "I must specifically note that as a result of the occupation of our lands by Armenia, thousands of people have died, and significant damage has been inflicted upon the economy, environment, and historical and cultural monuments. These facts are also evident in the criminal case concerning the indictment of persons of Armenian origin, which has been investigated and is currently under judicial review. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the historic Victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War, which began in 2020 with the valiant Azerbaijani Army's counter-offensive against the Armenian armed forces, as well as the anti-terrorist operations carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on September 19-20, 2023, against the separatist regime operating in Karabakh, an ancient Azerbaijani land, after the war, resulted in the liberation of our lands that had been under occupation for nearly 30 years, and the full restoration of the sovereignty of the Azerbaijani state, extending the force of our Constitution to the entire territory of the country. Considering its historical significance, by the Order of President Ilham Aliyev dated September 19, 2024, September 20 is celebrated annually as State Sovereignty Day".
The Prosecutor General recalled that immediately after the liberation of our lands from occupation, large-scale restoration and construction work began in those territories under the direct leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and with the close participation of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. Smart villages and cities were built, new jobs, production facilities, and educational institutions, including Karabakh University in Khankendi city, were established: "This process is continuing intensively. Within the framework of the implementation of the "First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan" approved by President Ilham Aliyev, a total of more than 15,000 former internally displaced persons have returned to their native lands. The mentioned construction and restoration works are being carried out at the expense of the powerful Azerbaijani state without the support of any foreign state or organization. Naturally, as a result of the policy pursued by our head of state, as well as the proper management of human capital in the country, the Azerbaijani economy is developing year by year, and despite being an oil-rich country, significant development of the non-oil industry is ensured, which naturally leads to the development of our society".