Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

May 10 marks the 91st anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Heydar Aliyev was a leader of the nation providing hope and optimism in an era of despair and distrust. His name is progressively linked with the socio-political economic and cultural uplift of the people of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev has left his indelible mark that helped change the course of history for the better for his nation.

Construction of a democratic, law-governed state, development of civil society, return to the national and spiritual values as well as development of science, education and culture in Azerbaijan are forever linked with the name of the late president of Azerbaijan. The adoption of the Constitution and the principle of powers separation, the alignment of the legal framework and national laws with international standards are integral parts of the program implemented under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev.

In 10 years, from 1993 to 2003, Azerbaijan covered a long and successful road. The process of nation building was successfully conducted and led to excellent results in Azerbaijan.

With his wise and foresighted policies, the great Azerbaijani leader has become an icon of honor, the architect of what Azerbaijan is today; independent, economically developed and strategically important amongst the community of nations. President Heydar Aliyev was instrumental in playing an indispensable role in keeping the country united, independent and sailing smoothly on a steady path of economic development. Being a charismatic leader with an impressive grasp of politics, he made all efforts to render his country important in the eyes of the West and equally secure relations with the East. Soon after becoming president of the country, the visionary leader was able to elevate the country's status as an important global player.

Heydar Aliyev introduced a balanced foreign policy, based on the interests of the country. Azerbaijan became integrated into the political structures of the East and West. His successful foreign policy contributed to the growing international authority of the country, which is now perceived as a reliable partner, and to its promotion as a reformist and ambitious state. That was also during the presidential tenure of Heydar Aliyev when Islamic values, which were not much welcomed during the Soviet era, began developing. Construction of new mosques, reconstruction of shrines, setting Islamic education institutions are to his credit.

One of the main achievements of Heydar Aliyev that paved the way to the economic revival of the country was his oil strategy. It was based on making politically stable Azerbaijan with further attraction of the Western capital to the exploration of the huge on- and off-shore hydrocarbon reserves of the country and the transportation to the world markets via diversified routes.

On September 20, 1994, the oil contract, later called a "Contract of Century", was signed with the Western oil companies in Baku. Neither coup attempt nor outside and inside pressures could break the will of the Azerbaijani leader. This contract instilled confidence to those who were full of doubt about the future of the newly born republic.

As a part of the strategy it was decided to transport the hydrocarbons through different routes. The Baku-Novorossiysk (Russia), Baku-Supsa (Georgia) oil pipelines were commissioned. Agreement for construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi- Erzurum gas pipe-lines were also reached. Thus, Aliyev undertook the next important step for ensuring long-term political and economic interests of Azerbaijan.

The policy of Heydar Aliyev successfully continues today. A strong state is being built on the foundation he has laid.

Today, Azerbaijan is a country that is highly respected in the world.

Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923 in Nakhchivan City of Azerbaijan. In 1939, after graduating from the Nakhchivan Pedagogical School he studied at the Architecture Department of the Azerbaijan Industry Institute (present Azerbaijan State Oil Academy). The incipient war interrupted his education.

From 1941, Heydar Aliyev headed the department at the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Nakhchivan and in 1944 was sent to work at the state security bodies.

Being elected at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan in July 1969 as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev became the head of the republic. In December 1982, Heydar Aliyev was elected a member of Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and appointed to the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR, and became one of the leaders of the USSR. During twenty years, Heydar Aliyev was the Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and for five years was Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

In October 1987, Heydar Aliyev, as a sign of protest against the policy pursued by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and by the Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev, resigned from his post.

He returned in July 1990 to Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev lived in Baku, then in Nakhchivan, and in the same year was elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan. In 1991-1993, he held the post of Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1992, at the constituent congress of the New Azerbaijan Party in Nakhchivan, Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Party.

In May-June 1993, when, as a result of extreme tension of the governmental crisis, the country was at the verge of civil war and loss of independence, the people of Azerbaijan demanded to bring to power Heydar Aliyev. The then leaders of Azerbaijan were obliged to officially invite Heydar Aliyev to Baku. On June 15, 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, and on July 24 - on resolution of the Milli Mejlis, he commenced to fulfil the powers of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On October 3, 1993, as a result of nationwide voting, Heydar Aliyev was elected president of Azerbaijan. On October 11, 1998, he was re-elected president of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev, giving his consent to be nominated as a candidate at the October 15, 2003 presidential elections, relinquished to run at the elections in connection with health problems.

On December 12 the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, President Heydar Aliyev passed away in a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, in the U.S.