Efruz Muduroglu: "Let us remember Heydar Aliyev, let us do our duty towards the coming generations"

What they will not have seen, besides the good things which are taking place nowadays in our time, is the extent of indifference to the difficulties created by injustice and poverty; how materialism, selfishness and the use of double standards is so rife and how it is being attempted to change by force the geography of the world.

Let us not forget that the two World Wars were started in 20th century, racism ran wild, human beings were subjected to torture and as though these were not enough, many were put into ovens and 6 million persons were put to death in a pre-meditated and planned manner constituting the greatest disgraceful calamity in history.

Azerbaijan received its due share of these events

Naturally, it is our wish that the future generations live in a more comfortable and more just world state of affairs. However, the inconsiderate prodigality of our generation will no doubt put the future generations into a difficult position regarding certain aspects.

We may for a moment hesitate to think what relevance these matters have with remembering Heydar Aliyev. The explanation of these aspects bears a very close relation to our subject, because in order to be able to understand Heydar Aliyev it is necessary to know in what world conditions he was living and under what circumstances he succeeded to carry out what he did. In addition, in order to be able to evaluate the future correctly, it is necessary to know well how it has been possible to arrive at the position reached i. e. to know the past well; especially if this past preserves within it the foundation of our existence, our peace of mind and the successes we have gained.

There is an obvious rule that every action creates a reaction. The reaction to the actions mentioned above, in accordance with the date of their occurance, have been the stemming up of Great Leaders such as Ataturk, Ghandi, Deng Xiaping. The latest person to join them is the Distinguished Son of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

Although he was not a Slav, he had reached to occupy the third position in the "Politburo of Soviet Union" and was the only non-Russian member of the "Political Buro". Heydar Aliyev's greatness cannot be measured by what he achieved since the middle of the year 1993 only. However, as His most important and striking achievements took place in that period I shall confine my observations to this period. Towards the end of 1992 there existed in Azerbaijan a terrific confusion, insecurity and a striking state of affairs pushing the country to disintegration.

This situation was continuing in the first half of 1993 and I was seriously anxious that the country would disintegrate once for all and was very sad and dejected. We had not as yet committed ourselves to any investment but seeing a brotherly country struggling hopelessly was breaking one's heart. With the arrival of the late President Heydar Aliyev in Baku in the middle of 1993, the situation came under control when he pulled the country from edge of the precipice, firstly establishing security and afterwards, taking great risks and demonstrating utmost devotion, political and economic stability was achieved.

I cannot think that in that period, anyone else could have been found to save Azerbaijan from the situation it was in. It is only after security, political and economic stability have been established and confidence given to the outside world that in 1994 "Contract of the Century" was signed with the giant petrol companies of the world and the dream of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline which will greatly benefit Azerbaijan was slowly appearing on the horizon.

With the coming of the big petrol companies to Hazar the foundations of balanced politics were laid. No doubt, what this means for the Turkic Nations will be better understood in future and better appreciated.

Later on, the state machinery was begun to be settled on modern foundations and the country was guided towards positive objectives. The Great Leader Heydar Aliyev who successfully achieved all these, in the knowledge of having entrusted the country to capable hands, has peacefully departed from amongst us as the Universal Leader of Azerbaijan and one of the hitherto fore Great Leaders of the Turkic family of Nations on 12th December 2003 without any unaccomplished expectations. Nevertheless, Heydar Aliyev will, without shadow of a doubt, live forever in the hearts and minds of all the family of Turkic Nations.

To state very concisely, Heydar Aliyev is the founder of the Independent Azerbaijan and the patriotic person who has put into place the foundation stone of the extraordinary development we are witnessing. In this context, all of us and first and foremost the People of Azerbaijan are grateful to Heydar Aliyev.

When all these matters are taken into consideration, the inclination of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan to proclaim the 10th of May as a National Holiday should not be regarded as a surprise but as a fair and appropriate gesture.

Efruz S. Muduroglu