As a result of discussions and scientific disputes and under the recommendation of the first All-Union Turkic congress held in Baku in 1926 Azerbaijan people together with Turkic people accepted the alphabet with Latin graphic. But under the pressure of the Center alphabet with Latin graphic was replaced with Cyrillic alphabet since January 01, 1940.
For more information see next links:

• Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language in Transition
  
• The Laws and other acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  on the State language and the Languages' rights

Russia's imperial expansion in the Caucasus began in 1723 with Peter the Great’s Caspian crusade. In 1796 the Russian army returned to the Caucasus. After the annexation of Georgia in 1801, the Russian Empire began the process of occupation of the Azerbaijani khanates. The ancient city of Azerbaijan Ganja was occupied by Russian troops in 1804.
The head of Ganja khanlygy Dzhavad khan was killed.
Ganja was renamed in Elizavetpol in honour of Alexander's wife Elizaveta.
For more information see

• Ganja - the memories of stones ..

Muhammed Fuzuli is one of the greatest Azeri-Turkish poets of the 16-th century (1498-1556). Like most of the poets of that time Fizuli wrote in three languages - Azerbaijan, Persian and Arabic. A variety of valuable exhibits tell us of the most remarkable events in the poet's life, his critical and philosophical works, lyric Ghazals and his magnificent poem “Leily and Mejnun”. The great poet died of cholera in Kerbela in 1556.
For more information see:

• Muhammed Fizuli
• Culture and Arts of the Azerbaijan Republic : Literature

Operated by Azerenergy, the Mingechaur hydroelectric power station was built in 1954 on the river Kura, providing Mingechaur not only with energy, flood control and irrigation but also with a large (600km²) and pleasant artificial lake (reservoir).
For more information abot Mingechaur see:

• Mingechaur
• Dinosaurs in Azerbaijan!?

Uzeyir Hajibeyov (Uzeir Gadjibekov) is a classic of the Azerbaijan music, with whose name the foundation and formation of national composers' schools is connected. In 1908 tool place premiere of his first opera "Leily and Majnun" that was first opera in Middle East.

For more information see next links:

• Azerbaijan's Great Composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov
• The State Memorial Flat-Museum of Uzeir Gadjibekov

In this day Azerbaijan became full member of Council of Europe.
Now Azerbaijan is going on the constructive dialogue between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan, aimed at supporting this country in its efforts to fulfil its commitments as a member state.
The ceremony of joinig toCouncil of Europe can be followed live on at the next address: http://dct.coe.int/apnet/accession.html

M. A. Rasulzade, famous Azerbaijani statesman, public figure and one of the founding political leaders of the First Azerbaijan Republic (1918-1920), was born on January 31, 1884, in Novkhane (near Baku)...

For more information see next links

• Mammad Amin Rasulzade - Statesman
• M.A. Rasulzade Founding Father of the First Republic