Azernews.Az

By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade

May 10 sees the 96th anniversary of great leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, who made an exceptional contribution to the history of the country and played a great role in the formation of Azerbaijani statehood.

Heydar Aliyev is a phenomenon who created the modern history of Azerbaijan and history remembers him as an outstanding politician and statesman, indisputable leader of the nation and a legend who loved Azerbaijan.

Since Soviet Era when Heydar Aliyev came to state power on July 14, 1969 as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan under the USSR, his leadership produced an outstanding era of confidence and trust. He had once been one of the most influential leaders of a vast empire, the USSR, which covered one sixth of the world’s landmass. His wealth of political experience and his personality meant that he was uniquely equipped to lead Azerbaijanis through the many crises facing the country.

Heydar Aliyev was conferred on a number of international awards and high honours, including the title of the honorary doctor of numerous universities. He was conferred on for four times with the Lenin Order, the Order of Krasnaya Zvezda and many medals, and twice Hero of the Socialist Labour, awarded by Orders and medals of many foreign states.

In connection with the tragedy committed on 20 January, 1990 in Baku by the soviet troops, Heydar Aliyev appeared at the Azerbaijan Representation in Moscow on the next day with a statement, demanded to punish the organizers and executors of the crime committed against the people of Azerbaijan. As a protest against the hypocritical policy of the leadership of the USSR, in connection with the critical conflict in the Mountainous Garabagh, in July, 1991, he left the ranks of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

When Heydar Aliyev returned to lead Azerbaijan in 1993, the war-torn country was almost on the brink of collapse. Under his astute leadership, much-needed domestic stability was restored, important political, economic and social reforms were launched.

He became a leader of nation in one of the most difficult moments of it and led people through this thorny way full of obstacles and his merit cannot be overvalued.

A well-balanced and farsighted foreign policy conducted under his leadership enabled to strengthen Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty and establish strategic partnerships with regional states and global powers. The conclusion of the multi-billion-dollar “Contract of the Century”, which was a triumph of the policy based on the oil strategy pursued by national leader Heydar Aliyev, paving the way for bolstering the country's geopolitical standing and economic integration. It was signed with the Western oil companies in Baku on September 20, 1994 and played a crucial role in the establishment of internal stability.

The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was also among the grand achievements of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy.

He had the ability to inspire others to act; it was as if he led the nation by charisma alone. Heydar Aliyev was a person who could have negotiated with big players in the oil game as Russia and Iran which were powerful neighbours in those difficult times after independence.

The president had phenomenal personal qualities essential for a powerful politician: a photographic memory, strong argument and the ability to bring people, including opponents, to his camp.

He supported Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, considering it as a fundamental component of the country’s national identity. A strong sense of identity enables a nation to stay strong even when surrounding political forces challenge that nation and its right to exist.

The great leader, who died at his 81st year, left behind an independent and prosperous nation grounded in democratic institutions, a rapidly developing economy and a swiftly increasing role in the modern world.

Foundation of our statehood on solid grounds laid by Heydar Aliyev today is developed by President Ilham Aliyev.

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Mirsaid Ibrahimzade is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @MirsaidIbrahim1

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