DECREE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
The city of Shabran, which is supposed, to be laid mid-1st century B.C. was one of the most majestic ancient cities of Azerbaijan. Before foundation of Shamakha, the city of Shabran was the capital of Shirvan shahs. Situated on the Great Silk Road, this city has always been attracting the attention as economic, trading and cultural center. Step by step Shabran, facing economic difficulties and foreigners’ invasions, quitted historical stage mid-18th century.
Scientific researches from the beginning of 30s of the last century and archeological digs carried out in the territory of over 5000 sq. m gave a chance to get rich archeological materials, reflecting material and moral culture of our people.
There were discovered two out of 12 towers, indicated in historical sources, of the Shabran city, fire-worshippers temple, mint, jail, streets related to 11-14th centuries, quarters of craftspeople, about 3000 specimens of numismatics, new archeological findings having no analogue in archeological literature.
Though in 80s of the 20th century, the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan raised the question on restoration and guard of the city of Shabran, it has not still found its resolution. At the moment, there remained only one of five sections of digs in the territory of the city of Shabran, majority of discovered monuments of construction and architecture were destroyed and land plots in the territory of archeological digs were distributed among locals.
For providing guard and preservation of historical and cultural monument “City of Shabran” for future generations, hereby I decree:
1. To announce historical and cultural monument “City of Shabran” as a historical reserve.
2. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
- to confirm the map of historical reserve “City of Shabran” indicating protection line within one month;
- taking into account the point of view of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan to confirm within two months the plan of actions on conservation of the remains of the city of Shabran and inform President of the Republic of Azerbaijan about it;
- to provide allocation of funds by the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan for science and research works in historical reserve “City of Shabran”.
3. Taking into account that the city of Shabran is an outstanding object among mediaeval cities of Azerbaijan, the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan shall take actions for wider study of its remains from the archeological point of view, provide the publication of science and research works about the city of Shabran and their translations into different languages.
4. Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall issue booklets about historical reserve “City of Shabran” in different languages and take the related actions for including the reserve into the routes of international tourism and attraction of tourists there.
5. To assign Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and executive authorities of Davachi region to provide preservation and guard of the historical reserve “City of Shabran”.
6. Executive authorities of Davachi regions jointly with law enforcement organs shall provide prevention of any construction and economic activities in the territory of historical reserve “City of Shabran”, not connected with its conservation.
Heydar Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
September 27, 2003
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