August 1 is celebrated annually as the Day of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and the Azerbaijani Language. This significant date serves as a reminder of the nation's commitment to its linguistic heritage and cultural identity.
Operative Information Center-OMM notes that this commemorative day was established by a decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on August 9, 2001. The decree was issued in recognition of the successful transition to the Latin-based Azerbaijani alphabet, which was fully implemented across the country by August 2001—a pivotal event in the socio-political life and written history of independent Azerbaijan.
The National Leader's dedication to the Azerbaijani language dates back to the Soviet era. In 1978, during the session of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, Heydar Aliyev insisted on including a provision in the Constitution that officially designated the Azerbaijani language as the state language, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to national values.
Following the establishment of the alphabet day, President Ilham Aliyev has continued this legacy through strategic initiatives. On January 12, 2004, he signed an order on the mass publication of works in the Latin script, and in 2013, he approved the "State Program on the use of the Azerbaijani language in the context of globalization in accordance with the requirements of the time and the development of linguistics in the country." These efforts, alongside the 2018 decree on protecting the purity of the Azerbaijani language, underscore the state's ongoing dedication to linguistic development and the preservation of national culture.
