Azerbaijan celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of its leader Heydar Aliyev

Heydar Aliyev

H.E. Javidan Huseynov, the Consul General of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Dubai, confirmed that the Republic of Azerbaijan is celebrating the centenary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, which falls on May 10th every year, in commemoration of the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan, and in accordance with the declaration of the President of the Republic that 2023 is the year of Heydar Aliyev.

On this occasion, His Excellency pointed out that Heydar Aliyev was a strong political figure who succeeded in leading his people out of historical and complex political trials and achieving independence through struggle. The Azerbaijani people take pride in entering the new millennium and witnessing the tremendous development in their country, thanks to the intelligence and extraordinary abilities of their leader, his strong will, and deep love for the homeland, alongside his wise decisions. Under his leadership, Azerbaijan experienced a pioneering renaissance in all social, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural fields.

He explained: "We are proud that Heydar Aliyev was an exceptional figure who wrote the modern history of Azerbaijan. His wise and decisive steps contributed to the enhancement and direction of the creative energy of the Azerbaijani people and revived their national spirit to aspire to build an independent state and follow in the footsteps of their forefathers in establishing the state of Azerbaijan. He managed to direct his people's potential for national development, which faced the risk of being erased from the political map due to Armenian aggression, external pressures, and internal conflicts."

The Consul General added: "Heydar Aliyev's great political will and deep conviction in his ability to manage the state with prudence and wisdom were evident during the years he served as one of the leaders of the Soviet Union, implementing large-scale projects. He continued in power for a second term based on popular demand, during which he saved his homeland from the danger of social and political division, arranged the prevailing chaos, and turned towards the development and rebuilding of the state on solid foundations."

He said: "The years of Heydar Aliyev's leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan witnessed a crucial stage during which the people benefited from a rare historical opportunity to achieve the permanent independence they had dreamt of. Aliyev embodied the highest meanings of humanity in his close connection with the people and loyalty to the national state ideology. Through his well-considered and courageous political decisions, he succeeded in solving the issues of concern to the Azerbaijani people, setting a national development strategy in the social, political, economic, and cultural fields. His successful oil strategy helped his people fully own their natural resources, which constituted a distinctive driving force for development and progress." His Excellency continued: "Aliyev's tenure witnessed tremendous achievements domestically and in all aspects. The first constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted, fundamental reforms encompassing all areas were implemented, a democratic and legal state was established, and a regular army was formed. The Azerbaijani ideology uniting our people around one cause was shaped. The mother tongue was protected by the state, and a tradition of regularly celebrating important events in our social, political, scientific, and cultural history was established, contributing to Azerbaijan's wide recognition as an ancient land with centuries-old spiritual and cultural heritage, and a place of tolerance at the crossroads of civilizations."

The Consul General of Azerbaijan in Dubai noted that Heydar Aliyev, who stood alongside the most influential politicians of his time, played an exceptional role in introducing the modern image of Azerbaijan and the rich values of its people, as well as his distinctive role in securing the state's proper position in the contemporary international relations system. In his many meetings with world leaders, he provided detailed information about the facts that fill Azerbaijan's history, the injustices faced by the state, the negative and gloomy shadows of occupation, and the deep humanitarian crisis that the people are going through. He mentioned that one of these meetings was with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, during the 7th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Casablanca - Morocco on December 13, 1994. This meeting entered the history books as the first meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and the UAE.

His Excellency Javidan Huseynov added: "Resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict based on the rules and principles of international law was the main task set by the great leader, and all our country's resources and the capabilities of our people were mobilized to restore historical justice. Thus, the state of Azerbaijan, which is a masterpiece of the great leader, managed to protect its sovereignty and independence by achieving a glorious victory in the 44-day national war. Heydar Aliyev, who left indelible marks in our state's records, was proud to be an Azerbaijani citizen throughout his life, later becoming a source of national pride and fame as a symbol of Azerbaijan around the world."

His Excellency concluded his statement by saying: "Our people will always remember him with gratitude, and celebrate June 15, when he returned to power in 1993, as the national holiday of the Republic of Azerbaijan - National Liberation Day. Independent Azerbaijan is a trust of the great leader for present and future generations, and his rich and diverse heritage is the national wealth of our people. Preserving this heritage is an honorable duty for every Azerbaijani."