BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 10. Today, May 10, marks
the 103rd anniversary of the birth of the National Leader of
Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.


Heydar Aliyev saved Azerbaijani statehood. It was thanks to him
that Azerbaijan was able to survive severe and harsh trials and
embark on the path of stability and sustainable development. He
created the foundation on which unprecedented economic and
geopolitical successes of independent Azerbaijan were achieved.


Having taken the leadership of Soviet Azerbaijan in 1969, the
National Leader achieved the transformation of the republic into
one of the most prosperous in the USSR. Naturally, his political
career continued in Moscow – Heydar Aliyev became one of the
highest leaders of the Soviet Union. However, the intrigues
orchestrated by Mikhail Gorbachev and his Armenian accomplices led
to Heydar Aliyev’s resignation in 1987. This triggered a series of
tragedies that occurred literally within a few years: the events of
January 20 in Baku, the riots in Sumgayit, the Khojaly genocide,
while the global Armenian community attempted to exploit this chaos
and implement the idea of the so-called “Greater Armenia,” which it
had nurtured for the past 200 years.


These plans were thwarted by the will of the Azerbaijani people,
who called upon the National Leader. Responding to the call of
millions of Azerbaijanis, Heydar Aliyev led independent Azerbaijan
and saved it from collapse. The National Leader had to
simultaneously fight against Armenian occupiers, emissaries from
the south and north, provocateurs of all kinds, local political
adventurers, and field commanders, who were little concerned with
the country’s integrity and sought to tear the republic apart.


With the return of Heydar Aliyev, a new chapter was opened in
the history of independent Azerbaijan: a ceasefire was achieved in
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict zone, domestic political
stability was established, the “Contract of the Century” was
signed, major projects began to be implemented, Azerbaijan’s
international image was built, and much more. The personality of
Heydar Aliyev, his authority, and his talent played a decisive role
in all of this.







The period from 1993 to 2003 became an important stage in the
modern history of the country: Heydar Aliyev saved national
statehood and laid the foundation for sustainable development in
Azerbaijan. On this solid foundation, taking into account the most
complex global situation, contemporary geopolitical risks, and
difficult events happening worldwide, today President Ilham Aliyev
– a politician of global stature – has built a modern country
recognized internationally. A strong and steadily developing
economy has been established, and a 21st-century army has been
formed. Relations with key foreign allies have been built, which
significantly strengthened the country’s position on the
international stage. A foundation was laid for a strong, powerful
state, motivated and capable of independently shaping its own
destiny, without relying on anyone. President Ilham Aliyev
fulfilled the historical mission of liberating Azerbaijani lands
from Armenian occupation: victory was achieved in the 44-day
Patriotic War. And in 2023, our country restored sovereignty over
its entire territory: as a result of a lightning-fast operation
completed in just one day, the issue of Armenian separatism on
Azerbaijani soil was resolved once and for all. Thanks to President
Ilham Aliyev, for the first time in 200 years, Azerbaijan did not
lose but regained its lost lands. Thus, a new reality was formed in
the region under the head of state, which, we are confident, will
lead Azerbaijan to further prosperity and an even greater role for
our country in world politics.


With the passage of years, the scale and historical significance
of the decisions made by the great leader Heydar Aliyev decades ago
become truly visible. Modern Azerbaijan is a recognized regional
leader.


This is exactly how Heydar Aliyev wanted to see Azerbaijan.