Australian Azerbaijanis mark 90th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev
By Sara Rajabova
The 90th anniversary of world-renowned Azerbaijani statesman and national leader Heydar Aliyev, May 10, has been marked in Australia.
The commemorative event devoted to the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan was organized in Sydney at the initiative of Australian-Azerbaijani-Turkish Friendship Unity President Imametdin Kassoumov.
The event highlighted former President Heydar Aliyev's prominent role and merits in strengthening the independence and statehood of Azerbaijan, its social and economic development and international recognition.
An official website of the Australian-Azerbaijani-Turkish Friendship Unity was launched over the anniversary of the Azerbaijani national leader.
Moreover, The Voice of Azerbaijan, an Azerbaijani language radio broadcasting once a week -- every Monday, dedicated a special program to Heydar Aliyev's memory. The program informed listeners that as a result of his successful political course and strategy, Azerbaijan -- a country which was economically crippled and war-torn in the early 1990s as a result of the Armenian aggression -- started to regain its position in the regional and international arena.
Founded in 1992 as Azerbaijani Association and renamed in 2007, the Australian-Azerbaijani-Turkish Friendship Unity is based in Sydney, where most of Azerbaijani students and families live and work.
Australia recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 26, 1991. The two countries celebrated the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2012.