All editions to be published in latin script

President Aliyev has issued a decree on improving the application of the state language. The preamble of the decree highlights the ancient nature of the Azerbaijan language, which is included into the Oguz group of the Turkic family of languages, of the fact that the ancient epic "Kitabi Dada Gorgud" (6-7th century) was written in this language, which signifies the historical and literary significance of the language.

Back in the USSR times, the Azerbaijan Constitution (1956) stated that the Azerbaijan language is the state language, which is still the case now, in an independent Azerbaijan. However, the norms of the Azerbaijan language are not respected in a number of mass media, official correspondence, advertising business, diplomatic and other representative missions active in Azerbaijan.

In order to foster state care for the application and development of the Azerbaijan language, one of the key attributes of the Azerbaijan statehood, the President has resolved to establish a state commission under the President's office, to prepare a draft law "On state language of the AR" and to instruct ministries and government agencies to prepare a long-term plan on introduction of the Latin script in state documentation. The Ministry of Education has been urged to take measures to improve the quality of teaching in the Azerbaijan language, while city administrations throughout the country to bring advertising posters and boards into conformity with the linguistic requirements.

The decree also instructs the Ministry of Culture and the State Television and Radio Company to improve the quality of dubbing of foreign films into Azeri. Since August 1, all newspapers, magazines, books and other editions must be published in Latin script.

The decision to shift to the Latic script was passed by the Azerbaijan parliament in 1992.