Spring 1999 (7.1)
Page 19

Oil Boom Period in Azerbaijan
(1880s - 1918)

Sabir
(1862-1911)


Conflicts between Azerbaijanis and Armenians have plagued this century. The most recent military confrontation broke out in 1988 in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan's territory where ethnic Armenians were settled. Tens of thousands of people from both sides have died in this conflict. The antagonism between these two groups, however, is recorded in literary works which date back much earlier. For example, a play by Jafar Jabbarli, "In 1905", points the finger at a local Russian governor in Baku who instigated the confrontation. That same year, terrible bloody ethnic clashes took place in Shusha (Karabakh section of Azerbaijan).

Then in March 1918, more than 10,000 Azeri civilians were killed when Bolsheviks and Armenian Dashnaks attacked Baku. Again, in mid-century, tens of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees were displaced from the Zangezur district. Sabir's plea for cooperation and peace between Azerbaijanis and Armenians is as relevant today as it was in the beginning of the century.

To Moslem and Armenian Brothers
(Early 1900s)

The spirit of the times demands that we unite, my friends.
Peace is the aim for which we all have pledged to fight, my friends.
In our beliefs there is no contradiction, am I right, my friends?
Then why do bitter controversies divide us, my friends?
To rash hostilities our enemies incite, my friends.
Ah, is there nobody to show the way to light, my friends?
Speak up, authoritative, reasonable men,
And let us call for peace and friendship among men.

Above right: Members of the Peace-Making Delegation in Karabakh, meeting in 1905 to curb the harsh ethnic clashes and re-establish peace. The delegation consisted of representatives of both Azerbaijani and Armenian clergy and intelligentsia. Photos: Azerbaijan National Archives.

Two nations, two good neighbors lived and thrived in one fair land,
For centuries they lived in peace and friendship in their land,
But then the devil interfered, for quarrels tear their land.
And plunderers and robbers now run riot in their land.

Just look what ignorance has done to us, God give us patience!
God help us bring to reason our two warring nations.
Speak up, authoritative, reasonable men,
And let us call for peace and friendship among men.
Who stands to gain from it, who's the inciter of the feud?
What inhumanity! What, in the first place, caused this feud?
Did Moslems or Armenians first spill their brothers' blood?
Sheer ignorance or someone's secret hand must have set off the feud.
Our tragic strife we surely have the right to blame
On those who vilely instigated it and fanned the feud to flame.

Speak up, authoritative, reasonable men,
And let us call for peace and friendship among men.

Above right: View of buildings in Shusha destroyed after bloody ethnic clashes with Armenians, 1905.

From Azerbaijan International (7.1) Spring 1999.
© Azerbaijan International 1999. All rights reserved.

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