Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev commemorated globally on 21st anniversary of his death

Leaders and diplomats from across the globe paid tribute to Heydar Aliyev on the 21st anniversary of his passing, honouring his pivotal role in Azerbaijan's statehood and his enduring legacy in strengthening ties between Turkic nations and beyond.

Türkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Cahit Bağcı, shared a post on his X page, Caliber.Az reports.

"We honour the memory of the great leader of brotherly Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, on the 21st anniversary of his passing," the post reads.

Kardeş Azerbaycan’ın ulu önderi,#TekMilletİkiDevlet anlayışının fikir babası Haydar Aliyev’i vefatının 21.yılında rahmetle ve saygıyla anıyoruz. 🇹🇷🤝🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/Ht2A0PzH42

— Cahit Bağcı (@cahitbagci) December 12, 2024

Meanwhile, former Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kılıç stated that, in the history of every nation, there are pivotal figures whose contributions mark significant turning points in the development of statehood. 

"For Türkiye, that figure was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, while for Azerbaijan, it was Heydar Aliyev," he noted.

Kılıç remarked that, leaders pass away over time, but their actions and legacies live on, and their memory does not fade.

"The foundation of modern Azerbaijani statehood undoubtedly lies in the philosophy and course of Heydar Aliyev, which continues to be implemented and improved by President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev."

Kılıç further pointed out that Heydar Aliyev, a great son of Azerbaijan, aimed to establish dialogue bridges, strengthen common values, and build close ties between Turkic peoples, even during the Soviet period.

"The achievements Heydar Aliyev reached during the Soviet era were undoubtedly a source of pride for the entire Turkic world," he added.

In Kılıç's view, Heydar Aliyev's return to power in 1993 became a beacon of hope not only for Azerbaijan but also for other independent Turkic states.

"With his extensive experience in state-building and governance, Heydar Aliyev made a significant contribution to the integration and unity of the Turkic world," Kılıç continued.

Kılıç also recalled that between 1994 and 2001, Heydar Aliyev participated in six summits of Turkic state leaders, during which he made key statements and proposals aimed at fostering closer ties among the brotherly nations. The national leader of the Azerbaijani people was confident that the coming period would become an era of dynamic development, constructive dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkic states.

Furthermore, Kılıç highlighted Heydar Aliyev's contribution to the strengthening of relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the deepening cooperation between the two nations during his leadership.

Moreover, in Georgia, tributes were paid to Heydar Aliyev, on the 21st anniversary of his passing. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Georgia, Faig Guliyev, along with embassy staff, Nariman Gurbanov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Businessmen's Association in Georgia (AZEBI), and representatives of SOCAR in Georgia, laid wreaths at the Heydar Aliyev Memorial Park in Tbilisi.

Following the ceremony in Tbilisi, they visited the memorial plaque on the banks of the Kura River and a monument in Rustavi to further honour his legacy.

In a similar tribute in China, the Azerbaijani Embassy marked the day by laying a wreath at a bust of Heydar Aliyev and observing a moment of silence. The event included a photo exhibition on the life and work of the late leader.

Ambassador Bunyad Huseynov spoke about the significant contributions of both Heydar Aliyev and his successor, President Ilham Aliyev, to the development of Azerbaijan-China relations. A film, İz (The Trace), produced by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was also shown to the attendees, including Azerbaijani citizens living and studying in China.

The anniversary was marked by various commemorative events across both countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev