THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

Article 23. The symbols of the Republic of Azerbaijan
(extract from the Constitution)

I. The national symbols of the Republic of Azerbaijan are the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the national emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

II. The National flag of the Azerbaijan Republic consists of three equal stripes. The upper stripe is blue, the middle stripe is red and the lower stripe is green and in the middle of the red one on both sides of the flag there are a white-colored crescent and eight-point star. The width across length of the flag is 1:2.

III. The image of the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the national emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the music and the text of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan are defined by the Constitution.

THE NATIONAL FLAG

The three-color national flag of Azerbaijan was accepted by the government of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan on November 9, 1918. After the collapse of the Democratic Republic in April 28, 1920 and the establishment of the Soviet regime this flag was relinquished in Azerbaijan. Yet the flag was restored by the order of the Supreme Medjlis of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and was declared the national flag of the Autonomous Republic on November 17,1990. At the same time the Supreme Medjlis of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic petitioned to the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR for recognition of the three-color flag the national flag of Azerbaijan.

The Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic considered the petition of the Supreme Medjlis of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and approved the three-color flag the national flag of the Azerbaijan Republic on February 5, 1991.

The national flag of the Azerbaijan Republic consists of three equal strips. The upper strip is of blue color, the middle-of red, the lower is green. The blue strip designates the Turkish origin of the Azerbaijan Republic, the red color-its intention to create a modern state and develop the democracy, the green strip-its relation to the Islam civilization. In the middle of the red strip on both sides of the flag there is a white-color crescent and an eight-point star. The relation between the width and the length of the flag is 1 to 2.

THE NATIONAL EMBLEM

The government of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan declared a competition on the national emblem of Azerbaijan on January 30, 1920 and made a decision to present the emblem model on May of the same year. However, due to the collapse of the Azerbaijan democratic Republic On April 28, 1920, the emblem was not approved.

The Supreme Medjlis of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic discussed the issue connected with the national emblem and raised petition in the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR on declaration of a new competition on the national emblem of Azerbaijan on November 17, 1990.

The competition was declared by the decision of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic on February 5, 1991. Tens of projects of the emblem were presented during the competition of 1991-1992 and it was also proposed to approve one of the projects developed in 1919-1920.

By the Constitutional Law of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic, approved on January 19, 1993, one of the projects, developed in 1919-1920 with certain alterations was confirmed the national emblem of the Azerbaijan Republic.

The National Emblem of the Azerbaijan Republic symbolizes the independence of Azerbaijan. The national emblem is the image of an oriental shield and a semicircle formed by the branches of an oak-tree and ears resting on it. The shield contains the image of a fire in the center of an eight-point star against a background of the colors of the National flag of Azerbaijan.

The salient description of the National emblem:

It is attached to:The residence and the private office of the President of the Azerbaijan republic;
The building of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic, its conference hall and the private office of the chair of the parliament;

All courts, buildings of military tribunals, halls of judicial assembly; private offices of the chairs of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court of the Azerbaijan Republic;

Buildings of state bodies in cases stipulated in the legislative system of the Azerbaijan Republic;

Buildings of diplomatic and trade representations and consulates of the Azerbaijan Republic

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic carried out a decision on the development of the national anthem of the Republic on January 30, 1920 and for this purpose the Ministry of National Education declared a competition. Yet the collapse of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on April 28, 1920 prevented this process.

The Parliament approved a law "On the national anthem of the Azerbaijan republic" on May 27, 1992. The law approves the "March of Azerbaijan", created by prominent composer Uzeyir Hadjibeyov and poet Ahmed Djavad in 1919, the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Composer: Uzeyir Hadjibeyov Text: Ahmed Djavad

Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan! The heroic patriotic glorious land! To die for you we are glad and we are ready! If there is need to shed blood We are too ready! With three color banner live happily! Sacrifices too many done, Every soldier to front has gone! When your chest was field of battle! Come back as a heroic son! Let me see you flourish, Let your enemies perish! I love you, my dear land Be mightier we do wish! To safeguard your sacred land, To hold high your honored flag, All the youngsters are too glad! Glorious land, glorious land! Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan! d