Elmira Gafarova | |
|---|---|
Azerbaijani:Elmira Qafarova | |
| Chairwoman of theSupreme Soviet of Azerbaijan | |
| In office 18 May 1990 – 5 March 1992 | |
| President | Ayaz Mutallibov |
| Preceded by | Suleyman Rustam |
| Succeeded by | Yaqub Mammadov |
| Chairwoman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of theAzerbaijan SSR | |
| In office 22 June 1989 – 18 May 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Suleyman Tatliyev |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Deputy chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR | |
| In office 22 December 1987 – 22 June 1989 | |
| Premier | Hasan Seyidov Ayaz Mutallibov |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR | |
| In office 1 December 1983 – 22 December 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Tahira Tahirova |
| Succeeded by | Huseynaga Sadigov |
| Minister of Education of the Azerbaijan SSR | |
| In office 13 February 1980 – 1 December 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Mehdi Mehdizade |
| Succeeded by | Kamran Rahimov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 Baku,Azerbaijan SSR,Soviet Union (now Azerbaijan) |
| Died | 1 August 1993(1993-08-01) (aged 59) Baku,Azerbaijan |
Elmira Mikayil gizi Gafarova[alt 1] (1 March 1934 – 1 August 1993) was anAzerbaijanipolitician anddiplomat.[1]
Gafarova was born on 1 March 1934 inBaku,Azerbaijan. In 1952, she completed her secondary education and was admitted toAzerbaijan State University in 1953. In 1958, she graduated from the university with a degree inPhilology and continued with herpost graduate studies until 1961 when she obtained her PhD in Philology. While at university, Gafarova was the deputy of theKomsomol committee of the university. In 1958, she was admitted toAzerbaijan Communist Party. In 1962, she was appointed the chairwoman of the Organization Committee Center of Azerbaijani Komsomol and in 1966 through 1970, she served as the first secretary of the organization.[1]
In 1970–1971, Gafarova worked as the director of Department of Culture of Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party and in 1971 until 1980, she was the Secretary of the Party Committee ofBaku. In 1980 she was appointed to the post ofMinister of Education ofAzerbaijan SSR which she held until 1983. In 1983–1987, Gafarova served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR. While in foreign service, she participated inUN General Assembly sessions in October 1984 on issues of racism and discrimination.[2] She was also elected to theSupreme Soviet of Azerbaijan. From 1987 through 1991, she was theSpeaker of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR and was elected deputy to theSupreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.[1] In 1987–89, she also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan SSR.[3] When she was the speaker of parliament, Gafarova played a significant role in restoring the historic name ofGanja on 30 December 1989, and made theNowruz holiday celebrated throughout Azerbaijan an official public holiday on 13 March 1990. She is also credited with passing a law onrestoration of independence of Azerbaijan on 18 October 1991 and admission of Azerbaijan Republic to United Nations on 2 March 1992.[2]
Gafarova has been of the first leaders to convene the extraordinary session of the Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on January 21–22 and condemn the Soviet authorities formassacre of civilians in Baku on the night of 19–20 January 1990. The session of 160 deputies issued a statement of condemnation of the massacre and appealed to Supreme Soviet of USSR, Supreme Soviets of union republics, all parliaments of the world andUnited Nations mentioning military aggression against civilians in disregard ofGeneva and Vienna Conventions.[2] As a result, Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office launched a criminal investigation on paragraphs 4 and 6 of article 94 (premeditated murder in aggravating circumstances), 149 (deliberately destroying or damaging the property), 168 (abuse of power) and 225 (abuse of authority) of the Criminal Code that was effective at that time. The ongoing investigation has not yet been closed.[4]
Gafarova has been awarded with various orders and medals of USSR.[1] She's been awarded withOrder of the Red Banner of Labour and Order of Honor during her career.[2]
Elmira Gafarova died on 1 August 1993 in Baku, Azerbaijan. She was buried in theAlley of Honor.[2]
| Azerbaijan Democratic Republic | |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic | |
| Republic of Azerbaijan | |
*There was no MFA body between 1921–1944 | |
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