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Press-release,
14 December 2003
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Press-release, 14 December 2003
HEYDAR
ALIRZA OGLU ALIYEV
The people of Azerbaijan are suffering a heavy loss. On 12 December 2003,
at his 81 years passed away the outstanding politician and statesman of
Azerbaijan, nationwide leader of our people, Ex-President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the “Yeni Azerbaijan” Party Heydar Alirza oglu
Aliyev.
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev was born on 10 May 1923 in the city of Nakhchivan
of Azerbaijan. In 1939, after graduating from the Nakhchivan Pedagogical
School he studied at the architectural department of the Azerbaijan Industrial
Institute (now the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy). The incipient war impeded
to complete his education.
Since 1941, Heydar Aliyev heads the department at the People Commissariat
of Internal Affairs of Nakhchivan ASSR and on 1944 was sent to work at
the state security bodies. Heydar Aliyev, working since that time in the
security bodies, since 1964 held the post of deputy chairman, and since
1967 – chairman of the Committee of State Security under the Cabinet of
Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic, and he was conferred the rank of lieutenant
general. In these years, he received special higher education in Leningrad
(now St Petersburg), and in 1957, he graduated from the history department
of Azerbaijan State University.
Being elected at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Azerbaijan in July 1969 as the First Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev heads the
Republic. In December 1982, Heydar Aliyev has been elected as Alternate
member of Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Soviet Union, and appointed at the post of the First Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR and became one of the leaders of
the USSR. During twenty years, Heydar Aliyev was the Deputy of the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR and for five years was Deputy Chairman of the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR.
In October 1987, Heydar Aliyev, as a sign of protest against the policy
pursued by Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union and personally the Secretary General Michael Gorbachev,
resigned from his post.
In bound with the tragedy, committed on 20 January 1990 in Baku by the
soviet troops, appearing on the next day at the Azerbaijan Representation
in Moscow with a statement, demanded to punish the organizers and executors
of the crime, committed against the people of Azerbaijan. As a sign of
protest against the hypocritical policy of leadership of the USSR, in
connection with the critical conflict accrued in Nagorno Karabakh, in
July 1991, he left the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
By return in July 1990 to Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev has lived at first
in Baku, then in Nakhchivan, and on the same year he was elected as the
Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan. In 1991-1993s, he held the
post of Chairman of the Supreme Mejlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,
Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In
1992, at the constituent congress of the “Yeni Azerbaijan” Party in Nakhchivan,
Heydar Aliyev, was elected as the Chairman of the Party.
In May-June 1993, when, as the result of extreme tension of the governmental
crisis, the country was at the verge of civil war and loss of independence,
the people of Azerbaijan demanded to bring to power Heydar Aliyev. The
then leaders of Azerbaijan were obliged to officially invite Heydar Aliyev
to Baku. On 15 June 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected as the Chairman of
the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, and on 24 July – on resolution of the
Milli Mejlis, he managed to fulfill powers of the President of Azerbaijan
Republic.
On October 3, 1993, as the result of nationwide voting, Heydar Aliyev
was elected as the President of Azerbaijan Republic. On October 11, 1998,
having garnered at the elections, passed in high activeness of the population,
76,1 percent of the votes, he was re-elected as the President of Azerbaijan
Republic. Heydar Aliyev, giving his consent to be nominated as a candidate
at the 15 October 2003 presidential elections, Heydar Aliyev relinquished
to run at the elections in connection with health problems.
Heydar Aliyev was conferred a number of international awards, the title
of honorary doctor of numerous countries, and other high honors. He was
conferred for four times with the Lenin Order, the Order of Krasnaya Zvezda
and many medals, and twice Hero of Socialist Labor, was awarded by Orders
and medals of many foreign states.
Historical destiny of Azerbaijan, covering the period of over the thirty
latest years, was inseparably linked with the name of Heydar Aliyev. Revival
of the people during these years in all spheres of its socio-political,
economic and cultural life is connected just with his name.
During the said period of his leadership, Heydar Aliyev helped his native
land Azerbaijan, the progress that he persistently strived towards, the
rich culture, great historical past with which he was proud of, and on
the coming generations on whom he was concerned, to overcome as a state
heavy and sharp ordeals of time.
Being an outstanding politician and statesmen, indisputable leader of
the nation, he was a live legend, and therefore the Heydar Aliyev phenomena
always attracted attention, the admiration rising political activity of
this nationwide leader of the Azerbaijanis of world was widely covered
both in the Republican and world press.
In June 1993, when the people of Azerbaijan believed that the national
statehood was on the edge of fall, when there began the hardest days,
it insistently demanded change of the existing power, and since that time
relied its destiny on Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev, seeing misfortune
of his nation, accepted the invitation and returned to great politics
in Azerbaijan. The people met the return of Heydar Aliyev with a hope
and joy, and this day went down the history of the independent Azerbaijan
as the Day of National Salvation.
In the late 1960s, during his first assumption of power, Azerbaijan was
experiencing a period of economic and cultural fall as well. At that time,
just with coming of Heydar Aliyev there was observed intensive rise in
all spheres of the life of society, development of national spirit and
progress of morality.
After return to power, Heydar Aliyev, due to his political ability could
salvage the country from the threat of civil war, socio-political separation,
and, embodying in him, in his strong personality the goal and idea of
the society, he could unite his native people around common ideology,
instill in it the sense of trust in morrow.
During these years, just Heydar Aliyev, as a true leader, could resolutely
bring to the notice of world the truth on Azerbaijan. Only after return
of Heydar Aliyev to power, Azerbaijan could realize its geopolitical opportunities.
Due to the political talent of Heydar Aliyev, the threat of isolation
of Azerbaijan from the world community was overcome.
Head of Azerbaijan always distinguished with his word, authority, and
influence from the standpoint of impact on the processes proceeding on
the world political arena. Inexhaustible energy of Heydar Aliyev, deserving
nationwide love, inspired the people for new successes.
Thanks to the bright political talent of Heydar Aliyev – one of the historical
personalities of Azerbaijan that in the junction of the two centuries
and two Millenniums, preserving its national-moral values, confidently
stepped down the Third Millennium. Having overcome all the obstacles,
and despite the difficulties, the talent of Heydar Aliyev helped Azerbaijan
to survive in upheavals of the extremely complicated time and hold a worthy
place both in the region and in the whole world.
Heydar Aliyev, demonstrating in the extremely hard period that serves
the nation, realized the mission that could not and cannot realize many
politicians, thanks to his inherent ability to respond to the actual challenges
of the modern world, forever held a worthy place among the prominent politicians
of the XX and XXI centuries.
Heydar Aliyev, as one of the unique statesmen of our people, along his
complicated life always thought on the people and Motherland. His heart
beat in the name of strengthening of the independence of Azerbaijan, for
happiness of his nation. As the head of state, Heydar Aliyev, in the most
complicated time for Azerbaijan showed unprecedented selflessness in the
name of its salvation, could save his country from misfortunes.
Due to a number of unique nature-gifted features, Heydar Aliyev, as a
farseeing personality, could foresee course of the historical events,
demonstrated a truly patriotic position while adopting decisions with
extreme significance for the national history, could undertake resolute
actions. The resoluteness, peculiar to his personality, often found its
reflection in the ideas, extemporized during his appearances before the
audience. Reports and speeches of Heydar Aliyev, which, being founded
on iron logic, had extraordinary impact, are bright expression of the
depth and width of his philosophical and political vision.
As head of the Azerbaijani state, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Heydar Aliyev holds an exceptional position in the centuries-old history
of our statehood. Heydar Aliyev’s activity, form the point of view of
its significance, goes far beyond the borders of Azerbaijan. The processes,
proceeding currently not only in Azerbaijan and but also in the entire
post-soviet space, as well as in the world, cannot be presented without
personality and activity of Heydar Aliyev. The period covering over 30
years of state building, economic rebirth, political consciousness, political
life in the modern Azerbaijan, is connected with the name and practical
activity of Heydar Aliyev, with an inexhaustible talent, encyclopedic
knowledge, large world vision, being a historical personality, prominent
politician, and concrete deals realized by him. These complicated processes
were reflected in his practical activity and philosophic ideology – the
philosophy of national revival.
Heydar Aliyev was a great philosopher and thinker of the present. The
philosophy of Azerbaijanism, founded and developed by him, determined
special role of Azerbaijan in the present world, rests in the basis of
national statehood, created a firm base for solidarity of the World Azerbaijanis.
The problems of national revival, which in the last century seriously
worried the Azerbaijani intelligentsia, thanks to Heydar Aliyev, in these
years, turned to a strategic state policy, from the science, sociology
and philosophy – to a practical and political plane.
Thanks to his bright political wisdom and talent, Heydar Aliyev created
a new Azerbaijan, its current realities and defined the path leading to
future. Just therefore, the period of history of Azerbaijan from 1969
up to date was closely connected with the name of Heydar Aliyev and went
down our history as Heydar Aliyev’s epoch. The major content of this epoch,
from the standpoint of further historical destiny of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijanism.
Path of Azerbaijan leading to construction of an independent state, in
essence, started since 1969 – after his coming to power. In this sense,
the brightest pages of Azerbaijanism were written just in these years.
In the frame of the then ideology, Heydar Aliyev could – let it be even
in the form not contradicting the existing system - not only prevent full
oppression of the national spirit of Azerbaijan, on the contrary, make
maximum use of the opportunities on the way of his raise.
In this sense, the next period of coming by Heydar Aliyev to leadership
of the Republic is perceived as start of the national self-consciousness,
return to the origins. The major ideological-political trend of the philosophy
of Heydar Aliyev management, history of which just begins from this period,
contains large extent of all forms and means of the national self-expression
of the people, strengthening sense of national pride and realization of
quick strategy pf development, able to raise the national conscience.
Since the beginning of his leadership in the Republic, it became a tradition
to regularly celebrate the jubilees of the prominent personalities of
Azerbaijan, that created foundation to raise national spirit, national
self-conscience, closely connected with the nationwide problems of the
Azerbaijani people, returning to the people its historical memory, realization
of the idea of independent statehood.
The work carried out by Heydar Aliyev while leading Azerbaijan in 1969-82
released national self-consciousness from the fetters of previous ideological
system and ensured boundless rising of national sprit on the base of such
fundamental principles as giving historical memory back to the people,
and created favorable conditions for the idea of national statehood our
people had been maturing for many years to turn into the great driving
force.
Coming to power in Azerbaijan, which because of being attributed to one
of the USSR’s provinces, was in late 60s behind others in all spheres
of social and economic life, the republic where negative trends had taken
deep roots, and where latent competition for power gradually intensifying
had taken bad shape undermining national and spiritual unity of the people,
the new leader first prevented collapse of economic potential of the republic,
possibility of negative impact of the recession in social and political
life upon moral and psychological state of the people.
As cosmopolitan atmosphere prevailed in the Republic then, not only no
serious steps were taken to train national personnel, develop and use
national language, staff officials of Azerbaijani origin, on the contrary,
such initiatives were resolutely suppressed putting obstacles to growing
personnel having national consciousness and mentality.
There was a need to find a way out of this complicated situation in the
Republic whose economy had entered the phase of deep and long crisis,
work out fundamentally new approaches to ensure its economic development,
conduct cardinal structural reforms in the economy, apply new methods
of economic management and encouragement. Heydar Aliyev was confident
that the foundation of a nation’s political independence is conditioned
by its economic freedom.
The negative factors prevailing at those times because of lack of the
national idea and leading to both economic and cultural decay were eliminated
with Heydar Aliyev’s coming to power. As a result of his unexhausted activity,
the years 1970-1985 constituted the brightest pages in the chronicles
of creation of Azerbaijan by the scale of changed occurred, character
of cardinal reforms in social and economic spheres and transition to qualitatively
new stage of the people’s living standard.
Today’s state sovereignty and economic independence of Azerbaijan, the
process of widening of its foreign economic links and deeper integration
into the global economy are based on the potential whose foundation was
laid by Heydar Aliyev as early as 1970-1980s.
Drawing attention in Heydar Aliyev’s strategic program of statehood is
the following feature regarding the ideology of Azerbaijanism: moral,
artistic and esthetic revival were realized here within the single flow
combined with progress achieved in economy, industry and construction,
as well as improvement of the people’s living standard and mass enthusiasm.
Since 70s, this progress - created owing to existing economic potential
as the next phase of the economic development of Azerbaijan - had inwardly
prepared the country for historically necessary struggle for freedom.
The large scale of liberation movement in late 80s early 90s became possible
due to the economic growth achieved at Heydar Aliyev times and formation
of national fighting spirit ready to immediately take the historical chance.
While in many other republics of the Soviet Union were observed the totalitarian
system’s strong pressure, threats and persecutions against workers of
science and culture, intellectuals, Heydar Aliyev managed – owing to his
fearlessness and firm will – to create in Azerbaijan favorable conditions
for creative persons to freely think, fully realize their creative plans,
and latently search for ways to national and moral principles ensuring
sovereignty and independence in the history of Azerbaijan statehood.
Exactly in these years, the large-scale works were done in Baku on municipal
improvements: a number of architectural complexes, administrative centers,
palaces, institutes, publishing houses, schools and many other buildings
beautified the city.
It was exactly Heydar Aliyev’s initiative due to which it became possible
to restore a lot of monuments of architecture. He was well aware that
immortalization in monuments of great persons in the history of Azerbaijan
would have extremely positive impact on strengthening of the national
self-consciousness of the people.
Thanks to the care Heydar Aliyev showed of our culture and history thus
demonstrating deep respect to them, majestic monuments for outstanding
persons bearing the idea of the national self-consciousness of our people
were erected, and home-museums for each great historical persons were
established in the most attractive sites of Baku.
One of the Heydar Aliyev’s far-seeing steps was his initiative to send
young Azerbaijani people to study in prestigious higher educational establishments
of the former Soviet Union for them to acquire knowledge and specialties
necessary for the future independent country. With rising scientific and
human potential in Azerbaijan, the realization of the national and spiritual
values of our people became a reality.
One of the factors conditioned revival of Azerbaijan under the leadership
of Heydar Aliyev in 1969-1982 was particular attention paid to development
of education in the republic giving preference to youth’s education in
native language.
In addition, to expand international ties of Azerbaijan in scientific
and technical, economic and cultural sphere, various related events used
to be arranged on a Union and international scale, while in former Soviet
republics used to be organized Days of Azerbaijan’s culture and arts.
All this created a solid foundation for establishment of links between
Azerbaijan and foreign countries and Azerbaijanis living there, and ensured
self-consciousness of the Azerbaijanis as a nation having its own historical
and cultural traditions.
It was the period when articles, which could non be appeared in print
even in Moscow or St. Petersburg because of being the samples of active
civil position, could see the light of the day in Baku periodicals under
Heydar Aliyev’s personal auspices protecting them from any attacks and
infringements. Favorable conditions provided in those years for representatives
of culture and art to create works in the spirit of national traditions
and connected to our historical past were the result of special care shown
to the young masters of pen.
From the very fest days of Heydar Aliyev’s coming power, the Azerbaijani
language was the focus of particular attention in his strategic program,
which constituted a foundation for building national state. As a result
of the Heydar Aliyev’s activity, Azerbaijani was given State language
status that was reflected in the Constitution of 1978. This step, which
from the standpoint of those times may be described as true heroism, was
taken exactly for the sake of future independent Azerbaijan.
Heydar Aliyev’s return to power in Azerbaijan in 1993 was a turning point
in social, political, economic, scientific and cultural life of the country,
and marked the beginning of process of building independent state in accordance
with international norms and principles.
As a result of the urgent measures taken by Heydar Aliyev - on one hand,
forming National Army and regular Armed forces capable to guard national
interests of Azerbaijan and defend our lands, on the other hand, stop
the war by all diplomatic and political means – the ceasefire regime having
vital importance to our country was established in May 1994.
Signing the first oil agreement called “Contract of the Century” in 1994
and its realization under conditions of relative stability within Azerbaijan
and increasing interest and confidence to our country in the international
arena, are the vivid evidence of realization of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy
constituting a concept of economic development of Azerbaijan.
Extremely tense activity carried out under the guidance of Heydar Aliyev
put an end to backstage games with Azerbaijani people’s destiny, political
anarchy ans experiment, crime, illegal armed groups that in all allowed
to create necessary conditions for successful state building in Azerbaijan.
Heydar Aliyev’s decisiveness allowed preventing October 1994 and March
1995 coup d'etat which posed serious threat to Azerbaijan statehood and
independence. Strengthening of Azerbaijan’s statehood and establishment
of democratic principles on the base of the first Constitution of the
independent Azerbaijan, successful and intensive realization of the process
of building democratic, legal and secular state are bound up with the
personality of Heydar Aliyev.
Domestic policy carried out by Heydar Aliyev implied providing each Azerbaijani
citizen with the right to live freely and create conditions for improvement
of his own living standard. Economic reforms, establishment of the market
economy, ensuring economic development, Azerbaijan’s integration into
the world economy, implementation of the privatization program and agrarian
reforms were priority directions of Heydar Aliyev’s activity.
Due to the foreign policy of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s relations with
the world’s leading countries and international organizations began developing
in accordance with the national interests far-sighted political perspective.
His resolute steps, skillful use of the most authoritative rostrums in
the name national goals, had extremely important significance from the
standpoint of the present and future of the Azerbaijan’s statehood.
Active diplomacy of Heydar Aliyev made democratic states and leading international
public organizations change their attitude to our country and the armed
conflict it had been involved in forcedly. The Heydar Aliyev’s foreign
policy was based on peace, respect to international legal norms, integrity
and inviolability of borders, territorial integrity of states and principles
of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Since 1992, Heydar Aliyev had been carrying out tense activity aimed at
expanding and strengthening economic, political, literary and cultural
links with Turkish speaking countries.
He did extremely intensive and fruitful work to prepare and realize large-scale
international economic agreements on utilization of natural resources
and favorable geo-strategic position of Azerbaijan in accordance with
the national interests.
Due to his huge political will and wise prescience, very important international
contracts were signed and their implementation was launched. Heydar Aliyev
was the initiator of Azerbaijan’s leading role in realization of a number
of world-scale economic programs of great political significance.
Heydar Aliyev has great merits in unity and solidarity of Azerbaijanis
who had been scattered around the world during the merciless and severe
trials of the history. He worked hard for the World Azerbaijanis to be
organized, and unite closely around their only motherland, the independent
Azerbaijan, and made extremely important decisions to this end.
Heydar Aliyev is our contemporary of genius: the very fact is a source
of pride for every Azerbaijani. At the same time, Heydar Aliyev is a great
historical person presented to our people by the destiny. He gave powerful
impetus to the process of historical development of Azerbaijan. It was
exactly Heydar Aliyev, the creator of the independent Azerbaijani state,
who laid the ideological basis for our national statehood.
Colossal activity of Heydar Aliyev as a political and public figure devoted
all his life to his people and left a deep trace in the history of the
Azerbaijani people, has become true school of public administration. There
will be many generations of the Azerbaijan people to use this school and
rich heritage of Heydar Aliyev in the name of our country’s development
and welfare of our people.
Dear and bright memory of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people,
wise head and person of genius Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev will live in
the hearts of the grateful Azerbaijani people forever.
May Allah rest his soul in peace!
State Commission
for Organization of Funeral
of Ex-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev
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