Azerbaijan celebrates Flower Day simultaneously with Heydar Aliyev's birthday

By AzerNews

Flower Day dedicated to the 90th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev is celebrated across Azerbaijan on May 10.

Traditionally celebrated in the Heydar Aliyev Park in front of the Heydar Aliyev Palace in the center of the capital Baku, the holiday is marked with a spectacular display of flowers from all over the world, some of which are made into large floral mounts and arrangements. Music and dances accompany the celebration.

According to Baku Executive Power, the festivities will start at 12.00 p.m. and continue until 9.00 p.m. with a concert at the Baku seaside park (boulevard). Grand fireworks will end the festive holiday.

Moreover, a parade of disciplinary forces of the Defense Ministry will be held in Baku in 13 directions in connection with the national leader's anniversary on Friday.

Heydar Aliyev, who will hold an honorable place in the history of the Azerbaijani state and memory of the people forever, worked hard to see his nation happy and prosperous, and dedicated his life to these efforts.

Heydar Aliyev led Azerbaijan to the path of prosperity. He has a matchless role in establishing and strengthening the independence of Azerbaijan, in increasing its international image, and in developing relations with a multitude of countries and nations of the world.

Heydar Aliyev, who was the chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhichevan, was invited to Baku in 1993 to take power when there was real chaos in the country. Incapability, indecisiveness and hasty steps of the administration of Azerbaijan in the initial years of independence were gradually leading Azerbaijan to a collapse.

Elected as President of Azerbaijan in October 1993, Heydar Aliyev succeeded in introducing Azerbaijan to the world in a short time.

Heydar Aliyev chose the path of establishment of a legal and democratic state in Azerbaijan. In 1995 the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted. New progressive laws were adopted which brought about drastic change in the judicial system of the country as a result of the implemented reforms.

Constructive activities in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, structural changes, planning of combat operations under a single leadership, management of the military units according to the requirements of military science had brought new quality to the Azerbaijani army.

Building a modern state on a strong and solid foundation, and on national values has been one of Heydar Aliyev's main policy directions. It was Heydar Aliyev who introduced the ideology of Azerbaijanism. Today, the philosophy of Azerbaijanism is one of our main ideological pillars.

After the establishment of socio-political stability as a result of the consistent and appropriate policy, the decline in production and economic downturn were gradually overcome and a new stage in the economic development of Azerbaijan began. The achieved macroeconomic stability, growth in industry and other sectors, and the initial results of economic reforms reflected the steps of Azerbaijan on the path of market economy.

The economic reforms carried out on Heydar Aliyev's initiative were based on the principles of market economy. Both political and economic reforms have preconditioned the present-day rampant development of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's oil strategy started being implemented on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev under the difficult circumstances of that time. Launched then, this strategy is continuing and being enriched today. Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy has been one of the key contributors to Azerbaijan's successful development.

Radical changes also took place in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. At first Azerbaijan determined its place in the system of international relations, its short-term priorities, directions and major strategic contacts with European countries, the United States, newly independent states, Turkic states, the Muslim world, Iran, Asia, Africa and South America. One of the most important achievements of the foreign policy conducted by Heydar Aliyev was the accession of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe in 2001 and its integration into the European family.

One of the priorities in the development of Azerbaijan to which Heydar Aliyev attached great importance was to inform the world community about the Azerbaijani literature, dramaturgy, art and culture. The Azerbaijani language received the status of the official language despite the resistance by many people. The remains of the repressed Azerbaijani poet Hussein Javid, who died in the Siberian steppes, were reburied in Azerbaijan. It was a remarkable period for the Azerbaijani culture. Celebrations of numerous anniversaries of the outstanding people of Azerbaijan and national holidays were held by the orders issued by Heydar Aliyev. Examples include the solemn celebrations of the 1300th anniversary of the most ancient written monument of the Azerbaijani people, the Kitabi Dede Gorgud epos, and the 500th anniversary of great Azerbaijani poet Mohammed Fizuli.

Time has proven that Heydar Aliyev's policy was the only proper policy which, in essence, extricated Azerbaijan from a series of chaotic events and put an end to a period of half-disintegration. Today, the political reforms pursued in Azerbaijan have contributed to the creation of a free society. All citizens of our country are guaranteed freedoms of speech, conscience, the press, and other civil liberties. The stable political system, the effective social policies, the rich natural resources, the modern infrastructure, the favorable geographic location, the educated young people -- all of these are additional contributors to the rapid success of Azerbaijan.