GUAM: Heydar Aliyev rightfully called Azerbaijan's architect, engineer

Heydar Aliyev’s selfless devotion to his people, iron will, political wisdom, strategic patience and far-sightedness, as well as leadership paved the way to stabilize the situation in the country and to revive the nation, GUAM Secretary General Altai Efendiyev said in a statement.

"Heydar Aliyev returned to his native Azerbaijan to become the saviour of the people, who faced external aggression and occupation, internal political struggle and upheavals. In the early 90s, the country was on the verge of collapse. His selfless devotion to his people, iron will, political wisdom, strategic patience and far-sightedness, and leadership skills paved the way first to stabilize the situation in the country, and then to the revival of the nation. Today's Azerbaijan is considered his brainchild, and he is rightfully called the country's architect and engineer," the statement said, Report informs.

The GUAM secretary-general noted that among Heydar Aliyev’s main priorities was the development of human capital for Azerbaijan’s future.

"Through the implementation of its energy and transport strategy, Azerbaijan has become an influential player contributing to international energy and transit security. The projects and initiatives initiated by Azerbaijan at that time fundamentally changed the geopolitical landscape of the Caspian and Black Sea regions, opening up promising prospects for regional cooperation and freeing huge economic potential. Based on the foundations laid by the national leader, the country successfully continues its rise," Efendiev stressed.

The official also emphasized that Heydar Aliyev was one of the founding fathers of the GUAM organization - "a regional group of friendly peoples and strategic partners united by common problems and challenges of violated territorial integrity and sovereignty and a common vision of their future."