Heydar Aliyev, a phenomenal leader of modern Azerbaijan

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

December 12 marks the 12th death anniversary of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Heydar Aliyev, a talented politician and public figure who devoted his life to prosperity and well-being of his nation, holds a special place in the history of Azerbaijan.

He was always referred to as the founder of contemporary Azerbaijan. He created a new milestone in the modern history of Azerbaijan.

He has done unexampled work for his nation when he was ruling over the country during the Soviet period and as the president of an independent Azerbaijan.

Heydar Aliyev shouldered the leadership of the country at the request of his nation during the most difficult times. Being the president of the independent Azerbaijan, he gave great confidence to the people and laid the foundation of the strong economic development. The national leader gained the love and respect of millions of people for bright ideas and unparalleled works.

Being a charismatic leader with impressive grasp of politics and a person with a remarkable memory and ability to articulate a vision for the future of the Azerbaijani nation, Heyder Aliyev was an intelligent man with eyes on future. He could make his country important in the international political arena, gaining the sympathy for his country in the West and East.

The visionary leader was able to elevate the country’s status as an important global player. His focus was to establish an independent foreign policy of Azerbaijan and gain a status of the leading regional player.

Heydar Aliyev is regarded an architecture of the modern Azerbaijan, who created its state administration and laid the legislative basis of the young independent nation. A new constitution was adopted in 1995. New progressive laws were passed, bringing drastic changes to the judiciary.

Constructive activities in the armed forces, structural changes, unification of combat operations under a single leadership, new military techniques based on established practices had brought new quality to the Azerbaijani army as well.

Building a modern state on a strong and solid foundation and on national values had been one of Heydar Aliyev's main goal.

Azerbaijan's oil strategy, begun under an initiative by Heydar Aliyev, has been one of the key contributors to Azerbaijan's rapid development. The grandiose oil contract, later called the "Contract of Century", was signed with the Western oil companies in Baku on September 20, 1994. Neither coup attempt nor outside and inside pressures could break the will of the Azerbaijani leader. This contract instilled confidence to those who were full of doubt about the future of the new republic.

After the establishment of political stability, the decline in production and the economic downturn were gradually overcome, ushering in a new stage in the economic development for Azerbaijan. The achieved macroeconomic stability, growth in industry and other sectors, and the initial results of economic reforms reflected the steps taken by Azerbaijan to transition into a market economy.

Azerbaijan's foreign policy had also gone through radical changes in this period. Azerbaijan strengthened its place in international relations system by setting its short-term international goals, and signed major strategic contracts with European countries, the United States, newly independent states, Turkic states, Muslim world, Iran, Asia, Africa and South America. One of Heydar Aliyev’s most crucial foreign policy achievements was the accession of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe in 2001, and its integration into the European family.

Today, national leader's immortal ideas and wise policy is being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. Under this farsighted policy, Azerbaijan is rapidly developing and gaining more reputation in the world day by day.

Heydar Aliyev will remain forever in the memory and hearts of the people as positive changes in their lives are directly associated with the name of the great leader and his farsighted policy. He will remain with us eternally through his ideas and the works he accomplished for the future of Azerbaijan.