Azeris revere Heydar Aliyev
The Azerbaijani people marked the birthday of the
late leader, former President Heydar Aliyev, on May 10, who would
have turned 86.
The man, who led Azerbaijan for 30 years and left an indelible mark on the country`s history, was honored not only in Azerbaijan but also in a number of other countries populated by Azerbaijanis.
Journalists were among those who paid tribute to the memories of this outstanding personality, whose path of life was quite challenging. Moreover, Heydar Aliyev, himself, had always held the media in deep respect, considering it an important socio-political institution of the country. We recall quite well his holding meetings with local media representatives, including those from opposition publications, and directly answering the most pressing issues facing Azerbaijan. It is also worth mentioning that it was Aliyev who had put forth an initiative to boost the financial standing of Azerbaijan`s leading media at a time the country was experiencing economic hardship.
Azerbaijan`s independence and sovereignty, economic growth and its participation in projects on a global scale, the peace process on settling the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia and the formation of the Azerbaijani Diaspora - all this is attributed in his name. His multi-faceted political activity had given a powerful incentive to Azerbaijan`s comprehensive development and set the course for its irreversible ascent.
Aliyev was born in Nakhchivan to a worker`s family in 1923. A graduate of the Azerbaijan State University history department, he held high posts in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 1941-1944. He started working for security agencies in the 1940s and acted as Chairman of the State Security Committee of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1967-1969.
Aliyev held the position of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1982 and that of First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers from 1982 till 1987. He also acted as a member of the Political Bureau of the Soviet Union Communist Party Central Committee.
For over 20 years Heydar Aliyev was a member of the USSR Supreme Council (legislative body), and its Deputy Chairman for five years.
In 1987, as a result of internal bickering in the USSR leadership, Aliyev resigned from his positions in the Political Bureau and the Council of Ministers.
Aliyev has done his best for Azerbaijan while he worked for five years in Moscow and spoke out during the January 1990 tragedy, when hundreds of civilians were brutally slain by the Soviet troops on the streets of Baku. Then Aliyev courageously accused the USSR leadership of killing innocent people and demanded to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
He resigned from the USSR Communist Party in July 1991.
Aliyev acted as Chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Majlis (parliament) from 1991-1993.
His return to power in 1993 averted the threat of civil war in the republic. He was then elected president of the newly independent Azerbaijan. In October 1998 Aliyev was re-elected for another term.
The former president died of heart disease at a hospital in Cleveland, United States on December 12, 2003.
The man, who led Azerbaijan for 30 years and left an indelible mark on the country`s history, was honored not only in Azerbaijan but also in a number of other countries populated by Azerbaijanis.
Journalists were among those who paid tribute to the memories of this outstanding personality, whose path of life was quite challenging. Moreover, Heydar Aliyev, himself, had always held the media in deep respect, considering it an important socio-political institution of the country. We recall quite well his holding meetings with local media representatives, including those from opposition publications, and directly answering the most pressing issues facing Azerbaijan. It is also worth mentioning that it was Aliyev who had put forth an initiative to boost the financial standing of Azerbaijan`s leading media at a time the country was experiencing economic hardship.
Azerbaijan`s independence and sovereignty, economic growth and its participation in projects on a global scale, the peace process on settling the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia and the formation of the Azerbaijani Diaspora - all this is attributed in his name. His multi-faceted political activity had given a powerful incentive to Azerbaijan`s comprehensive development and set the course for its irreversible ascent.
Aliyev was born in Nakhchivan to a worker`s family in 1923. A graduate of the Azerbaijan State University history department, he held high posts in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 1941-1944. He started working for security agencies in the 1940s and acted as Chairman of the State Security Committee of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1967-1969.
Aliyev held the position of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1982 and that of First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers from 1982 till 1987. He also acted as a member of the Political Bureau of the Soviet Union Communist Party Central Committee.
For over 20 years Heydar Aliyev was a member of the USSR Supreme Council (legislative body), and its Deputy Chairman for five years.
In 1987, as a result of internal bickering in the USSR leadership, Aliyev resigned from his positions in the Political Bureau and the Council of Ministers.
Aliyev has done his best for Azerbaijan while he worked for five years in Moscow and spoke out during the January 1990 tragedy, when hundreds of civilians were brutally slain by the Soviet troops on the streets of Baku. Then Aliyev courageously accused the USSR leadership of killing innocent people and demanded to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
He resigned from the USSR Communist Party in July 1991.
Aliyev acted as Chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Majlis (parliament) from 1991-1993.
His return to power in 1993 averted the threat of civil war in the republic. He was then elected president of the newly independent Azerbaijan. In October 1998 Aliyev was re-elected for another term.
The former president died of heart disease at a hospital in Cleveland, United States on December 12, 2003.
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