‘National Leader Heydar Aliyev prepared concept of Azerbaijan’s economic development’

With 40 years of work in system of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the former Japanese ambassador to Azerbaijan (1999-2002) Toshiyuki Fujiwara, now being the general director of Institute of the International Relations of Japan, shared his impressions about the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev.

T.Fujiwara said that the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, has left unforgettable memoirs in his memory. Political activity of the member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Communist Party of the former Soviet Union, the first deputy of chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Heydar Aliyev drew his attention from his student time. Heydar Aliyev was remembered to him as the politician of the international level, far-sighted and outstanding statesman. Election in the Political Bureau of Azerbaijani Heydar Aliyev consisting then only of the persons of Slavic nationality, has confirmed his opinion.
T.Fujiwara said that last years` works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he was engaged only in Azerbaijan. Fujiwara told that the kindest memoirs connected with his diplomatic activity, remained about Azerbaijan and its leader Heydar Aliyev.

 Having reminded of Heydar Aliyev`s state visit in February 1998 to Japan, the former diplomat told that at that time in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he supervised over department on work with the countries which have restored independence. When there was a question that head of what republic firstly to invite to Japan as the state visitor, T. Fujiwara has stated that exactly the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev is the best candidate for this purpose. However, he was much disturbed, whether Heydar Aliyev will accept his invitation, and when the invitation was accepted he was very much pleased.

Certainly, preparing this invitation, the importance of the newly independent republics for Japan was considered. In view of that Heydar Aliyev attached special significance to relations with Japan, in a short space of time he accepted the invitation.

Mr. Fujiwara recalled the day when in 1999 he presented to Heydar Aliyev his credentials as the newly appointed ambassador of Japan to Azerbaijan. T. Fujiwara told that this day was remembered to him as one of the brightest in diplomatic activity. Having told that for the period when he worked in Azerbaijan, relations between the two countries have reached on new level, the mutual trust has become stronger, the former ambassador underlined that all these successes were reached with assistance of Heydar Aliyev.

The former diplomat told that in his memoirs connected with Heydar Aliyev, there are also sad events. In April 2003, during the next address in the Palace of Republic Heydar Aliyev had unexpectedly heart attack, and, despite protests of associates, he returned on the scene and continued his speech. It was real example of how such great statesman - the President of the country realizes the problems and responsibility. This event has once again confirmed what great statesman and great politician Heydar Aliyev was.

Having noted Heydar Aliyev`s huge merits before the people, the general director has underlined that at the heart of today`s quick development there is the strategy defined by Heydar Aliyev, having restored political stability in the country, not only has achieved civil unity, at the same time deeply having analyzed the processes occurring in the international life, could establish relations with other countries on the basis of mutual interests. Heydar Aliyev has prepared also the concept of economic development of Azerbaijan, having signed with the international companies the “Contract of the Century”, and thus has put the basis of the future progress of the country. Having created the basis to take the hydrocarbons of the Caspian Sea to the world markets through diversified routes, Heydar Aliyev`s activity as the President of Azerbaijan was very necessary not only for the people, but also from the point of view of the international relations, for the foreign states.

From this point of view, the irreplaceable role of this prominent statesman in establishment and development of Azerbaijani-Japanese relations should be necessarily noted. I say that successful development of these relations was yielded by desirable results because have coincided with the period when in Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev was in power. The policy pursued on the basis of the ideas of Heydar Aliyev enables today`s continuation of close friendship between two states. Relations between the two quickly developing countries - Japan and Azerbaijan, led by President Ilham Aliyev are today at very high level, and these relations steadily develop.  I am deeply pleased as the former ambassador of Japan who has worked in Azerbaijan, Toshiyuki Fujiwara finally underlined.


/AzerTAc/