Tahira Tahirova
Encyclopedia
Tahira Akbar qizi Tahirova ( (November 7, 1913 - October 26, 1991) was an Azerbaijan
i (Soviet) politician
and diplomat
.
(presently in Turkmenistan
). Having graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (then the Azerbaijan Industry Institute) in 1935, she became the first Azerbaijani
female professional obtaining a degree of higher education related to oil industry. In 1940, she was appointed director of Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute. From 1942 on, she worked at the Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party
and was in charge of delivering timely oil supplies to Soviet Army
fighting the enemy on the frontlines during the World War II
. In 1949, she started teaching courses on oil well exploration and development at the Azerbaijan Oil Academy and in 1953 she obtained her PhD.
. In 1957, she was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR. However, her work did not start until 1959 when she graduated from Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of USSR. According to Soviet laws of the time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of a union republic was also in charge of other governmental duties. During her term in office, she succeeded in separation of duties and at her request, was relieved from her additional positions within the government in 1968 and completely committed herself to diplomatic service. Tahirova is known for her bringing more Azerbaijani diplomats to foreign service of the Soviet Union and the diplomatic academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She frequently was a member of Soviet diplomatic teams at the UN General Assembly sessions. In addition to that, as a mediator, Tahirova led the Soviet peacemaking team during the Iran-Iraq war
in 1979-1989
for her special contribution to foreign office of USSR as well as with Order of the Red Banner of Labour
, Order of Lenin
, Order of the Badge of Honour.
She was fluent in Turkish
, English
and Russian
.
Tahirova died on October 26, 1991. She was laid to rest at Avenue of the Honored Ones Cemetery
.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i (Soviet) politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Early life
Tahira Tahirova was born on November 7, 1913 in Bayram-AliBaýramaly
Baýramaly is a city of Turkmenistan, a seat of Baýramaly District within Mary Province. It lies about 27 km east of the provincial capital Mary, along the main railway line from Ashgabat to Tashkent. In 2009, it had a population estimated at 88,486 .The city is located in a dry oasis in the Murgab...
(presently in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
). Having graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (then the Azerbaijan Industry Institute) in 1935, she became the first Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
female professional obtaining a degree of higher education related to oil industry. In 1940, she was appointed director of Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute. From 1942 on, she worked at the Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party
Azerbaijan Communist Party
The Azerbaijan Communist Party was the ruling political party in the Azerbaijan SSR, making it effectively a branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union...
and was in charge of delivering timely oil supplies to Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
fighting the enemy on the frontlines during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1949, she started teaching courses on oil well exploration and development at the Azerbaijan Oil Academy and in 1953 she obtained her PhD.
Political career
Starting from 1954, Tahirova held various high ranking positions at Azerbaijan Council of Workers Union, Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSRCabinet of Azerbaijan
The Cabinet of Azerbaijan is the chief executive body of the Republic of Azerbaijan.-The Executive Power:The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state....
. In 1957, she was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR. However, her work did not start until 1959 when she graduated from Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of USSR. According to Soviet laws of the time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of a union republic was also in charge of other governmental duties. During her term in office, she succeeded in separation of duties and at her request, was relieved from her additional positions within the government in 1968 and completely committed herself to diplomatic service. Tahirova is known for her bringing more Azerbaijani diplomats to foreign service of the Soviet Union and the diplomatic academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She frequently was a member of Soviet diplomatic teams at the UN General Assembly sessions. In addition to that, as a mediator, Tahirova led the Soviet peacemaking team during the Iran-Iraq war
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
in 1979-1989
Awards
In 1976, Tahirova was awarded with Order of Friendship of PeoplesOrder of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons , organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for...
for her special contribution to foreign office of USSR as well as with Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
, Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, Order of the Badge of Honour.
She was fluent in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.
Tahirova died on October 26, 1991. She was laid to rest at Avenue of the Honored Ones Cemetery
Fakhri Khiyaban
The Alley of Honor is a public cemetery and memorial in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Alley includes burials of famed Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan-affiliated expatriates, including several Presidents, scientists and artists...
.