President Aliyev: Heydar Aliyev led country from recession to progress

/By Azernews/

By Gulgiz Dadashova

Heydar Aliyev made an exceptional contribution to the history of Azerbaijan and played a great historical role.

President Ilham Aliyev made the remark at an official reception has been held at the Heydar Aliyev Center to mark the 93rd anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev on May 9.

"He twice headed the state of Azerbaijan and both times led Azerbaijan from recession, anarchy, and chaos to development and progress," he stressed.

May 10 marks the 93rd anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev thanks to his unwavering convictions and historical vision, succeeded in materializing the idea of national statehood, building a modern Azerbaijani state and realizing the independence dreams of Azerbaijani people. The Heydar Aliyev phenomenon gained a status of eternity as representatives of all generations honor the national leader and pay tribute for his tireless work to develop Azerbaijan.

"In 1969, Azerbaijan occupied one of the last places among the republics of the Soviet Union. Thanks to efforts, skills, knowledge of Heydar Aliyev and his affection to the Azerbaijani people, in 13 years the country turned into the most advanced republic. In the Soviet Union, except the Russian Federation, there were only two republics, which did not receive subsidies from the center. One of them was Azerbaijan,” President Aliyev explained.

He further noted that Heydar Aliyev was quite unreasonably dismissed from all posts in 1987. “It was a great injustice and a provocation against him and, at the same time, against Azerbaijan,” President Aliyev said.

Heydar Aliyev’s dismissal was followed by recession that deepened in 1990s.

"Political crisis was boosted by economic crisis. People completely lost confidence in the then authorities. The civil war flared up. The Armenian occupation combusted and began to expand, our lands fell under the occupation,” the President said, adding that in such a difficult time the people again turned to Heydar Aliyev.

“The Azerbaijani people invited him to the power and pinned great hopes on him. In the most difficult time of the country’s independence, Heydar Aliyev was again next to his people. He has agreed to lead his people. Since 1993, Azerbaijan has begun to observe a breakthrough in all areas. The civil war was ended, illegal armed units in Azerbaijan were disarmed and an order was established, while the country entered a period of development,” President Aliyev said.

He stressed that the next phase - the period covering the years 1993-2003, was a period of development and stability. Today, Azerbaijan is self-affirmed as an independent state in the world.

President Aliyev further emphasized that since 2003 Azerbaijan continues the policy of Heydar Aliyev, noting that there are no alternatives to this policy.

"The experience of recent years shows that our country and our people can go forward pursuing only this path," President Aliyev said.

The president, speaking about the priorities of the state, noted that Azerbaijani citizen, his/her problems, concerns and safety stands in core of the state policy. Security issues in Azerbaijan are ensured at the appropriate level. There is a socio-political stability. Peoples’ well-being in improved.

"Although the ongoing economic and financial crisis in the world, has also affected us, I believe that we managed to honorably get out of this crisis, and today there is no problem in the economic sphere. Our financial position is stable, economic development continues, despite the problems associated with the decline in oil prices in 3-4 times, we deal with these problems with dignity. I am confident that we will successfully end 2016," he emphasized.

President Aliyev voiced belief that in the coming years, Azerbaijan will enjoy even greater respect in the international arena. “The processes in the country are going in a positive direction. Our initiatives related to regional cooperation, enhance not only us, but also the neighboring countries. We have a very precise program on the further development and our vision for the future is very clear. The work to be done in the coming years will further strengthen us. We have no doubt in the further development of the country. Azerbaijan will continue to follow the path of development. All the problems, including in the social sphere, that the country faces are solved and will be solved."

He went on to add that although oil prices have fallen by 3-4 times, wages and pensions increased by 10 percent in Azerbaijan this year, social programs have been implemented and issues related to the construction of schools, hospitals, the problem of displaced persons and other social issues are being solved.

The president once again reminded that the main challenge before Azerbaijan is the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“By using political and diplomatic, as well as other factors in this direction, we are strengthening our position in the negotiation process. Justice supports and protects our position. Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical, native Azerbaijani land and in legal terms, it is an integral part of Azerbaijan. The decisions and resolutions adopted by international organizations protect and enhance our position.

As for the differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan, they are obvious. I have repeatedly stated that it is impossible to be unconscious of the advantage of Azerbaijan in the political sphere, in the economic sphere as well as in all other areas, including in the field of army building. April battles also showed that today the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies world-wide and is able to perform any task.”

Theretofore, President Aliyev stressed, the country has a clear vision of the plans for the future. “We must strengthen our country, further improve the welfare of the Azerbaijani people and Azerbaijan should take even more firm position on the global scale. In short, the international norms and principles, of course, play a major role in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But we have to become even stronger, and we go down this path,” the president said.

President Aliyev, addressing the event which also honored the 71st anniversary of Victory over fascism, also reminded the role the Azerbaijani nation played in the WWII.

Azerbaijan played a great role in achieving victory - both at the front and in the home front, the president stressed.

A total of 600,000 citizens of Azerbaijan fought in World War II, half of them, or 300,000, were killed and never returned home. The Azerbaijani people demonstrated heroism during the war. Many Azerbaijanis were awarded with high awards and medals. Military equipment was produced in our factories. These equipment and weapons have rendered indispensable service to the Soviet Army in the most difficult moments of the war.

In those years the Azerbaijani oilmen have worked tirelessly to supply the Soviet Army with fuel. During the war, Azerbaijani oil workers provided 90 per cent of the fuel that was used by the Soviet army.

All these factors, as President Aliyev said, give ground to say that Azerbaijan has played a huge role in the victory over fascism.

Earlier on the same day, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva attended a solemn ceremony in Baku to mark the 71st anniversary of victory over fascism in World War II. President Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva met with war veterans and congratulated them on Victory Day.

Commemorating the great leader

On the birthday anniversary of the savior of the Azerbaijani people, President Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva, family members, relatives and friends of the national leader visited the Alley of Honors.

President Aliyev laid a wreath at the grave of national leader Heydar Aliyev, and paid tribute to him.

Later, President Aliyev, Mrs. Aliyeva and daughter Leyla Aliyeva attended a tree-planting event in a green space on the 29th-30th kilometer of Zigh-Heydar Aliyev International Airport highway.

The head of state was told that more than one million trees had been planted so far along Zigh-Heydar Aliyev International Airport highway in an area covering 969 hectares and measuring 20 km in length.

President Aliyev, his wife and daughter Leyla Aliyeva planted a tree here.

Starting this year, Flower Festival celebrated across Azerbaijan every May 10 and honoring the memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev is held in different format. The colorful holiday, celebrated since 2004, from now on will focus on importance of ecological protection.