Heydar Aliyev, who took the role of savior by leading Azerbaijan, which was in danger of civil war after independence, was at war with Armenia and struggling with economic crises, is remembered with respect and gratitude.
The memory of Heydar Aliyev, who won the love of Azerbaijanis by dedicating his life to his country and people, both in the Soviet and in the independence period, is kept alive with the title of “Public leader”, which means the national leader given to him by the people.
80 full years of service to the people
Aliyev’s 80-year life, spent serving his people and fighting for Azerbaijan, began on May 10, 1923 in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.
Heydar Aliyev graduated from Nakhchivan Pedagogical Technical School in 1939, then enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute, but could not complete his education there with the outbreak of the Second World War.
Between 1941 and 1944, Aliyev served as the Director of the Secret Archives Office of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the Branch Director in the Nakhchivan People’s Commissariat Council. Attracting the attention of his managers with his successful work and analytical ability, Aliyev was recruited in 1944 in the State Security Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Continuing his career in the KGB, Aliyev was appointed as the Chairman of the Azerbaijan KGB in 1967 and was given the rank of major general.
Aliyev was elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan in 1969, and ruled Azerbaijan in this position until 1982.
Aliyev, who was invited to Moscow in 1982 and elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the USSR Communist Party, became one of the 19 people who had a say in the USSR administration and was appointed as the First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers the same year.
Aliyev submitted his resignation in 1987, objecting to the policies of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the USSR Communist Party and the USSR Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, and returned to Azerbaijan in 1990.
Aliyev, who entered the political scene again by not being indifferent to the problems of his country during the disintegration of the USSR, was elected as a deputy of both the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 1990.
Aliyev, who resigned from the Communist Party in 1991 by objecting to the two-faced policy of the USSR administration against the territorial demands of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, was elected the Chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Council, which has a parliamentary nature, and became the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan in accordance with the relevant laws.
He stabilized his country
Aliyev, who continued his duty in Nakhchivan when Azerbaijan declared its independence, founded the New Azerbaijan Party, which is in power today, on November 21, 1992.
Heydar Aliyev was invited to Baku by the people to eliminate the danger of civil war, and on June 15, 1993, he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan.
Aliyev became president by winning the elections held on October 3, 1993 and started to work with all his might to solve the problems of his country.
Aliyev, who was elected president in a difficult period in Nagorno-Karabakh, when the war that started in 1991 continued and the Armenians occupied Azerbaijani lands, started to work by strengthening the army.
[Fotoğraf: AA]The Azerbaijani army, whose weapons, ammunition and equipment were improved, prevented the attacks of the Armenian army by making counter moves.
Fierce clashes were stopped by signing a protocol on a ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia on May 4-5, 1994 in Bishkek.
Aliyev suppressed the revolts of some forces that wanted to seize the government illegally with diplomatic maneuvers, put an end to the internal turmoil with the support of the people, and enabled the country to step into the stabilization process.
Laid the foundation for economic development
Heydar Aliyev, with 11 companies from 7 countries, laid the foundation of the country’s economic development by signing the “Contract of the Century”, which envisages the operation of Azerbaijan’s largest oil field, Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (AÇG) basin and bringing oil to world markets.
Aliyev abolished the death penalty as a result of the adoption of the constitution reflecting universal democratic values through a referendum during his presidency.
During his administration, Aliyev established good relations with the Turkish-speaking countries, especially Turkey, as well as Russia, the USA and European countries, and strengthened his country’s position in the international arena.
Aliyev was re-elected as president by receiving 76.1 percent of the vote in the election held on October 11, 1998. He was also a candidate in the elections held on October 15, 2003, but he withdrew his candidacy in favor of Ilham Aliyev due to health problems.
Heydar Aliyev died on December 12, 2003 in the USA, where he was being treated, and was buried on December 15 in Fahri Hiyaban in Baku.
[Haydar Aliyev’in cenaze töreni. | Fotoğraf: AA]President Ilham Aliyev declared 2023 “The Year of Heydar Aliyev”.