Interview

Immortal ideas

Azernews correspondent Agajafar Hasanli has interviewed the leader of the Musavat party Isa Gambar on the upcoming Independence Day, May 28.

- Mr. Gambar, what do you feel when you celebrate May 28?

” I feel proud of being a son of the Azerbaijani people, who created, for the first time in the Oriental and Islamic world, a democratic republic on May 28, 1918. I am proud of being a member of Musavat, a party formed by most of the founders of the first democratic republic. With the pride, I believe more in the power and potential of my nation. Therefore, May 28 is a special day for me.”

- Is your party the successor of the Musavat established by the great ideologist Mammadamin Rasulzadeh and involved in the formation of the first democratic republic amid claims of other parties that they have also acquired Musavat ideas?

” We are not a new Musavat or its successor. We are the Musavat itself that was set up at the beginning of this century. The party was founded in 1911 and went underground in a period between 1920 and 1937. While in exile, Musavat functioned till 1991. That year, consultations of the national movement with exiled Musavat members decided that the party return to Azerbaijan. Thus, a restoration center was set up, and in March of 1992 Musavat leaders in Turkey passed their powers to the center. So, this is the same party as the one established in 1911.

As far as those who claim for Musavat ideas are concerned, I can say that we have never monopolized these ideas. This is not our property. This is a stream based on independence and democracy for Azerbaijan people. We can only be happy for absorption of these thoughts. At the same time we are not worried if there are people misusing Musavat ideas. They will get their due.”

- Could you portray the road Musavat covered from the early century to the 1990s.

” Musavat played a vital role in the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian empire in 1917. As you know, most laws, decrees and resolutions adopted in Azerbaijan were then more democratic than in European countries. But, many Musavat members were exterminated in death camps of Lenin and Stalin following the Russian occupation of Azerbaijan in 1920. Even dying in prisons, Musavat adherents showed their best features of courage and worthiness, which was reflected in numerous literary works and historic documents. One of them, a novel renowned Russian writer Volkov wrote in the Slavki camp, tells of the heroic moral struggle of Musavat members.

Musavat remained active till 1937, with its secret circles and organizations. Stalin ruthless repression in 1937 forced the party to suspend the work. But, impression it had made was so deep that through the rest of the Soviet rule, anyone who spoke in favor of the nation was immediately labeled as a Musavat supporter.

After 1920, most of the Musavat executives had to go into exile, rallying in Turkey and expanding activities there. In the 1930s, Musavat's headquarters were moved to Warsaw, Poland and back to Turkey after World War II. The party members in Turkey and Azerbaijan used to maintain close relations, operating from the single staff.

A new Musavat party was set up in Azerbaijan in 1989 to propagandize the ideas. The new founders of Musavat applied to the party's leaders in Turkey for unification. Negotiations were followed until 1991 and the party's third restorative congress was held in November 1992. Thus, Musavat was officially restored in Azerbaijan and it has become the country's leading party again over the past ten years. “

- What is your prediction of the activities of Musavat members in the 21st century?

” The Musavat movement was three years in power last century, in 1918-1920 and from May of 1992 till June of 1993. The Musavat members of the 21st century believe that Azerbaijan should be ruled in the spirit of Musavat ideas throughout most of this century. It doesn't absolutely mean that Musavat should rule all the time. The great Rasulzadeh said the party that will lead the nation shouldn't necessarily be Musavat, but neither should it oppose Musavat traditions and spirit. The Musavat of today is keeping operating with perseverance. I believe that we will be able to realize Musavat's ideas.”