Today marks birthday of Azerbaijani President

The 24th of December is the birthday of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev was born in December 24, 1961, in Baku.
He attended a secondary school in Baku from 1967 till 1977.

In 1977, he entered the Moscow State University of International Relations (MSUIR).

In 1982, upon his graduation, Mr. Aliyev had continued his education as a postgraduate student in MSUIR. In 1985, he finalized his research works and received a PhD degree in history.
During the years of 1985-1990, he taught at the Moscow State University of International Relations.

From 1991 to 1994, President Ilham Aliyev led a group of private industrial-commercial enterprises.

In 1994-2003, he was the vise-president, and later the first vise-president of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). He had been actively involved in the implementation of Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy.

In 1995 and 2000, he was twice elected to the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 2003, he stopped his activity as a Member of Parliament due to his appointment to the post of Prime minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Since 1997, Mr. Ilham Aliyev is the President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.
He has been elected deputy chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party in 1999, first deputy chairman in 2001, and the chairman of the Party in 2005.

From 2001 to 2003, he was the head of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE).

In January 2003, Ilham Aliyev was elected as Deputy-Chairman of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe and member of the PACE bureau.

In August 4, 2003, following the approval of the Milli Majlis, he was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In October 15, 2003, he was elected as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. More than 76% of voters supported Ilham Aliyev's candidacy during the elections. He assumed his post on 31 October, 2003.

Ilham Aliyev was elected for the second term of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, after acquiring 88% of votes of electorate in the elections, held on October 15, 2008.

He assumed his duties at the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 24, 2008.