Today marks the 15th anniversary of the death of the architect and founder of the independent Azerbaijan, national leader Heydar Aliyev.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and family members have visited the Alley of Honors to honor his memory. Parliamentarians, ministers, committee chairs, company heads, and representatives of general public also visited the Alley of Honors to pay tribute to the national leader.
Among those in attendance at the commemorative ceremony were the republic's Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and other officials.
World-famous politicians remember Heydar Aliyev with great respect.
As prominent Russian diplomat, former foreign minister and prime minister Yevgeny Primakov said on the pages of the book 'Going ahead. On the 90th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev,' published in 2013 by Vestik Kavkaza with support from the Heydar Aliyev Fund, that without exaggeration Heydar Aliyev was an extraordinary man, who "brought Azerbaijan up, made it one of the most developed republics". "He was the first from the Transcaucasus to enter the Politburo,was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. This might even cause jealousy from his neighbors. However, Aliyev’s nomination to Moscow was a well-deserved, right decision,” Yevgeny Primakov recalled at that time.
"I know that Yuri Andropov treated him very well. And not just because of Heydar Aliyev's outstanding qualities, but also because he headed the Azerbaijani KGB. Obviously, it was also due to human sympathy for Heydar Aliyev. Once (when Aliyev was still a Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan) we were driving in a car, and Andropov, who was resting in the North Caucasus then, called him. The security guard and I got out of the car. I don’t know what they were talking about, but the fact that Andropov called him was significant," he said.
Yevgeny Primakov's last meeting with Heydar Aliyev took place when they were the head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the president of Azerbaijan. "I was on a complicated mission - I had to bring more than a hundred captured Armenians from Azerbaijan on my plane, according to the Red Cross list, and captured Azerbaijanis from Stepanakert (Armenia's name for Khankendi - ed. note). When I came to Heydar Aliyev, he told me: "I will release all of them, except for those three people on death row for a murder." I say: "Heydar Aliyevich, then it's over, the Armenian side agreed only on a parity swap. "He thought about it - and that's him all the way - and said, "Fine, I will release them too!" He knew how much criticism from his opponents in Azerbaijan it would cause, but he made the only sure and wise step - an act of a truly outstanding politician," Yevgeny Primakov recalled.
Former Israeli President and Prime Minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres described Heydar Aliyev on the pages of the book 'Going ahead. On the 90th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev' as wise and courageous leader. "He understood that he would have to expose Azerbaijan to global influences in the context of this changing world, and, as he noted in his speech at one of the World Economic Forums:" We are taking the first step towards the active integration of Azerbaijan into the world economy in order to show that our country is open for foreign investment, business and mutually beneficial cooperation." He quickly realized that keeping up with the world economy means prosperity, while a limited national economy leads to poverty," Shimon Peres stressed.
The famous Israeli leader attended the signing ceremony of the Contract of the Century, where he met Heydar Aliyev personally. "I had the pleasure of meeting President Heydar Aliyev at the World Economic Forum in Davos, when the Contract of the Century was signed. We had the opportunity to hold a unique conversation and an informative exchange of opinions on a wide range of issues relevant to both parties, which caused my deep respect to him as a courageous and devoted leader of his country who cares about the future. I was amazed by his inexhaustible determination to achieve and secure a better future for his people and country by promoting economic growth and discovery of Azerbaijan by a new and changing world, coupled with the freedom of religion that existed in his presidency," he recalled.
"Considering the foundations laid by him, the recognition that Azerbaijan has gained, and its strength thanks to the current policy, I think that Azerbaijan will continue its economic growth, and its position as an important player in the international arena will strengthen, accumulating the international community's respect and ensuring stability and prosperity of his people," Shimon Peres concluded.
German statesman, who served as the Federal Minister of the Interior, Hans-Dietrich Genscher stressed in the book 'Going ahead. On the 90th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev' that back in Soviet times Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation of modern, independent Azerbaijan. "Back then, many of his decisions and undertakings contributed to strengthening the Azerbaijani people's self-identification, awareness of their history and culture. These farsighted steps of Heydar Aliyev had their effect after Azerbaijan's independence proclamation, creating fundamentally different, better opportunities for the dynamic development of the country. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan effectively used 'window of opportunity' of the Soviet Union’s new policy in the second half of the 80s. The country got a chance to take the path of independent development and did not miss it. At all times, in the most diverse conditions, Heydar Aliyev’s policy was distinguished by conceptual clarity, responsibility and foresight," he noted.
"The example of the founder of the state Heydar Aliyev and his son Ilham Aliyev again confirms the idea that history is made by personalities. Azerbaijan has a rare happiness: in the early years of independence, this country was headed by a man who made an indelible impression on everyone who met him with his personal authority, clear understanding of goals and objectives, determination and responsibility. I speak from personal experience. Azerbaijan was also lucky that Heydar Aliyev's successor, current president Ilham Aliyev opens up new perspectives for his country, being based on the created basis, in our radically changing world," Hans-Dietrich Genscher concluded.
