55 years ago, the era of Heydar Aliyev began in Azerbaijan – a strong state, economic growth, a stage of national and spiritual renaissance
55 years ago, on the sultry 1969 July 14, people gathered at the plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan probably did not know that they would sign a glorious page in the history of our statehood.In their eyes, Soviet Azerbaijan was just changing its next leader.This time, they brought to power a young general and an influential public figure who gave great preference to administrative discipline.But everyone was dissatisfied with Azerbaijan’s situation. Everyone wanted the situation to change. Everyone was hoping for a new leader…
The era of Heydar Aliyev
This period is considered the first stage of the salvation of Azerbaijan, that is, the first stage of liberation.Because at that time, Azerbaijan was in the 14th place among the 15 republics of the empire in terms of socio-economic status. There was a great recession in the country. It was in such a difficult period that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev took great responsibility and despite all the ideological and political obstacles of the Soviet empire, he managed to cope with the most difficult task and formed the development concept of Azerbaijan.That is why that date, 55 years ago, can be approached in different contexts. But if we analyze any direction, we will see that development, rise, renaissance, positive changes, effective reforms, effective results – the best indicators are reflected there. From this point of view, we can say with full confidence that 1969 was the first liberation mission of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in the history of Azerbaijan.
So, what was Azerbaijan getting rid of?!
To find an answer to this question, it is enough to look at the scene of 1969. It is an undeniable fact that in the late 1960s, Azerbaijan was experiencing a period of economic-social, as well as national-cultural decline. At that time, with the arrival of Heydar Aliyev, there was a rapid rise in all spheres of social life. The period of development and renaissance of the national spirit has begun. At that time, Azerbaijan was lagging behind in terms of socio-economic indicators in the former union.
But the Great Leader achieved a great leap in the development of all fields in our republic with his extraordinary management skills and steel will and raised Azerbaijan from the 14th place to the 4th place in the Union in terms of development level. This does not mean that there was no development and construction in other republics. No, they were all developing. It’s just that Heydar Aliyev’s dynamics,ability, and leadership in management were at such a great level that Azerbaijan was advancing faster and gaining greater achievements. Azerbaijan was preparing for the period of independence. Azerbaijan’s path to independent state building actually began in 1969 – precisely after the Great Leader came to power.
Economic growth, comprehensive progress, revolutionary changes
If we look at the scale of the work done during the first period of leadership of Azerbaijan by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1969-1982, we will witness the rapid development of our republic in this short time.Let’s take a look at the indicators of sustainable socio-economic development of Azerbaijan and the infrastructures created in our country with the creative ideas and initiatives of Heydar Aliyev during that period.With the initiative and leadership of Heydar Aliyev, more than 250 plants, factories, production workshops and facilities were commissioned in the republic in 13 years. Industrial and agricultural production increased 2.7 times, production of consumer goods increased 3 times, productivity in the field of grain, cotton, grapes, silk, vegetables, tobacco, horticultural products production increased 2.6 times.Grain production increased from 573.9 thousand tons to 1 million 211.3 thousand tons, grape production from 272 thousand tons to 1 million 725.4 thousand tons, cotton production from 299.4 thousand tons to 831.2 thousand tons.
Oil production increased by 2.8 times, machine building and metal processing by 3.3 times, chemistry and petrochemicals by 2.8 times.4400 new machines, devices, equipment and other products were produced in the industry. 400 of them were produced for the first time in the former USSR.If 735 large industrial facilities were built in Azerbaijan during the 100 years until 1969, during the period of Heydar Aliyev’s leadership, their number was increased to 1048 in just 13 years. In 1972, the current Heydar Aliyev Palace was opened in Baku, and in 1975, the Baku Household Air Conditioners factory was opened. In 1976, the construction of the Upper Khanbulanachay Reservoir was completed, then the Sarsang Reservoir and the Baku Deep Water Plant were commissioned. In 1980, the “Gulüstan” palace was built, and large residential areas such as Yeni Ahmadli, Guneshli, as well as micro districts were built. In 1969-1982, a total of 20,400 kilometers of asphalt roads were built in our country.Although Azerbaijan is an oil country, in fact, there were serious problems in the oil industry. This, of course, could not have worried Heydar Aliyev. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev, as a result of the measures implemented in this field, oil production in our republic increased by 2.8 times, chemical and petrochemical production by 2.8 times. These are not just numbers. These indicators were a clear embodiment of the revolutionary changes that took place in Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy and in the economy of Azerbaijan.
The ideology of azerbaijanism and the beginning of national self-realization
It is clear from history that from the first days of Soviet rule, everything that was not related to communist ideology was crossed out in this structure.Beliefs, traditions, even national music were considered a relic of the past. Of course, all this had a very heavy impact on Azerbaijan. There was a strong national-moral erosion in our country.
But the National Leader was able to strengthen the sense of national self-awareness in the people in a short period of time, to form a complete picture of the national identity and the system of thought. In those years, the foreign view of national and moral values disappeared, and a solid moral and ideological foundation was formed.
The main activity of Heydar Aliyev’s leadership of the republic was aimed at the national revival of the people and the awakening of national pride.In order to achieve this goal, Heydar Aliyev did not allow the regime’s ideological repression machine to suffocate the ideology of Azerbaijanism, he protected intellectuals who had ideas.Thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s ideology of Azerbaijanism, the unity and solidarity of our people, including our compatriots, was achieved. The main goal of this idea was to give the Azerbaijani language the status of a real state language, and to pay high attention to the protection and development of our language.The Great Leader valued the mother tongue as one of the most important factors on the way to national self-awareness, and took bold and visionary steps in this direction. The great personality seemed to see the future, he was constantly working for the future independence of Azerbaijan even in the Soviet era. The basis of this idea was, first of all, the creation of highly qualified national personnel potential. As a result of Heydar Aliyev’s activities aimed at giving the Azerbaijani language the status of a real state language, the status of the state language of the Azerbaijani language was established in the Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR of 1978.Attention was paid to the development of Azerbaijani-language schools and education, despite Moscow’s objections, along with the Russian language, the official status of the Azerbaijani language was ensured in the republic, and education in the mother tongue was preferred.The development of the Azerbaijani-language press was ensured. The history of the Azerbaijani language was studied in an unprecedented order, and the multi-volume “Modern Azerbaijani language” books were published.The “Modern Azerbaijani language” textbook for higher schools was awarded the State prize. The authority of the mother tongue was once again confirmed by highly evaluating the work of scientists who study the mother tongue. The Institute of Linguistics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences was established. In 1969-1982, up to 770 school buildings were commissioned. The number of higher schools in the republic increased from 12 to 17, and the number of students from 70,000 to 100,000. Up to 17,000 young Azerbaijanis were educated in more than 170 of the most famous higher schools of more than 50 major cities of the former USSR.Before the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev came to power, 47 people were sent to get higher education every year outside our republic. A small part of the 47 sent people were Azerbaijanis. In 1975, their number reached 700 people. Starting from that period, the study of Azerbaijani youth outside the republic became intensive. After Heydar Aliyev came to power, first of all, our intellectuals began to breathe freely. The brightest pages of Azerbaijanism were written from those years. The period after the arrival of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev to the leadership of the republic in 1969 is also considered as the beginning of national self-awareness and national self-return.
The era of Heydar Aliyev’s absence and the second liberation mission
We should note with regret that at the end of the 1980s, that is, during the period of Heydar Aliyev’s absence, Azerbaijan lost its achievements, was dragged into big problems, crisis, and recession. The turbulent, crisis and defeat history of Azerbaijan began with the era of Heydar Aliyev’s absence. A hotbed of separatism remained in Karabakh. Then came the period of bloody war, land loss, civil war, economic and social decline. Azerbaijan was isolated.We have all experienced the hardships, crises and defeats of 1988-1993. Our state and people have experienced the mistakes and sometimes deliberate mischief of the unscrupulous, treacherous, adventurous leaders and their non-nationalist teams as the bitterest days of our fate. During the absence of Heydar Aliyev, the deportation of our compatriots from Armenia and the occupation of Karabakh began.At that time, when the centripetal tendencies were strengthened in the Soviet republics, and the ideas of independence were widespread, the leaders of Azerbaijan showed indecision in the face of the activities of the USSR leadership that attracted Armenian bias, and could not express their objections. The January 20 tragedy in Baku by the Soviet army was also the result of the betrayal of the Azerbaijani leadership against its nation.But we should especially note that personalities like Heydar Aliyev, regardless of where and in what position they work, are at the forefront of the society’s struggle for national actions.t is no coincidence that Heydar Aliyev, who did everything he could for the rise of our republic during the years he led Azerbaijan and worked under the leadership of the USSR, raised the independence struggle of our people to a new stage with his love for the country, charisma and leadership qualities in the early 1990s.History blessed the Great Leader to write the Liberation he started in 1969 for the second time in 1993.
The situation in Azerbaijan in July 1969 was much more dangerous, disastrous, and tragic in June 1993.With his historic return in 1993, Heydar Aliyev fulfilled his second rescue mission with dignity. Thanks to the wisdom, foresight, and determination of the Great Leader, Azerbaijan was soon saved from turmoil and upheavals. The plans of the anti-Azerbaijani networks failed as a result of Heydar Aliyev’s determination and the intense mobilization of the people around their leader. Our national leader restored stability and peace in the country in a short time.Heydar Aliyev successfully concluded the second liberation mission and guided our republic, which was in danger of losing its independence, to the path of salvation and progress.That is why the people of Azerbaijan call the Great Leader a savior leader and never forget the unprecedented successes he achieved for the state and the nation.If it was not for the Great Leader, who erected an eternal statue in the hearts of the people with his actions, ideas, visionary policy, great courage and political will, phenomenal memory, perhaps there would be no independent Azerbaijan today. It is the people of Azerbaijan, ordinary citizens of Azerbaijan, who live the glorious name of Heydar Aliyev. But the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which embodies the ideas of the Great Leader, is an address that keeps the name of the Great Leader alive.The mission of the foundation headed by the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, and the multifaceted projects implemented by it, today make the spirit of the Great Leader happy.The foundation, which started operating in 2004, has been actively participating in the construction of a new society by implementing various projects in the fields of education, health, culture, sports, science and technology, ecology, social and other fields in our country, making unparalleled contributions to the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan.For the sake of the progress of Azerbaijan and the well-being of our people, it implements large-scale programs and projects that serve this purpose, benefiting from the rich heritage of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.The fund, which has managed to achieve these with its countless projects, initiatives, and benevolence, has become a spiritual friend of people in Azerbaijan. Believing that the key to the door of salvation lies in this benevolent fund, people turn to it with confidence and find that they are not mistaken in their hopes.Under the leadership of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, the foundation made a worthy contribution to the implementation of large-scale improvement and reconstruction works in the territories freed from occupation after the Patriotic War. The process of restoration and repair of our historical, religious and cultural monuments in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur was carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and it is carrying out various projects even today.
From Heydar Aliyev’s army building to Ilham Aliyev’s glorious Victory
The glorious Victory in the Second Karabakh War, after the anti-terrorist measures implemented in 2023, Azerbaijan, which fully ensured its territorial integrity and sovereignty, created new realities in the region. Of course, the architect of all this is Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the most worthy graduate of the Great Leader’s political school, Commander-in-Chief Muzaffar, the strongest commander in our history.The basis of our military victory was laid by Heydar Aliyev’s army building policy. 2 years after coming to power in 1969, the Great Leader established a specialized school named after Jamshid Nakhchivanski in 1971 in order to train national military personnel to strengthen the military power of the state and hand it over to reliable hands in the future.Starting from that period, the Great Leader succeeded in admitting Azerbaijani youth to the Baku Higher Joint Command and Baku Higher Naval Schools, as well as to other military schools of the USSR, on preferential terms. Our national officer cadres trained in Jamshid Nakhchivanski Military High School and other military schools have an exceptional role in the formation of the Armed Forces.The Azerbaijani soldiers trained in these schools showed unparalleled bravery in the First and Second Karabakh War.Mr. Ilham Aliyev, a follower of the Great Leader’s political course, promised to continue on the path defined by the genius and fulfill his ideas, and most importantly, the Holy Father’s will, when receiving a mandate of trust from the people of Azerbaijan in 2003. In order to fulfill the 30-year longing of the Azerbaijani people and the promise to end the former Nagorno-Karabakh conflict once and for all, Mr. Ilham Aliyev first of all strengthened the economic power of the state, and then built the strongest army and the largest defense industry of both our history and the region, and trained patriotic youth.By liberating Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, which had been under occupation for 30 years, and by fully restoring our territorial integrity and sovereignty, Mr. Ilham Aliyev rose to a peak that no other leader could achieve in any period of Azerbaijan’s history as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The Republic of Azerbaijan entered the most powerful period of its history. This is exactly what the national leader Heydar Aliyev wanted to see! Today, our country, our people, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, are living the pride of the mighty, victorious Azerbaijan. Today, whatever we call development and advancement, the foundation of each of them was laid by the Great Leader. The reason why our flag is flying today in Shusha, Khankendi and along all our borders is precisely because Heydar Aliyev opened a specialized school named after Jamshid Nakhchivanski and the Victory Road started from there. Today, Azerbaijan is the guarantor of Europe’s energy security and the energy exporter of many Western countries, the basis of which is the “Contract of the Century” signed by the Great Leader in September 1994.If today Azerbaijan is known as the logistics and transit center of Eurasia and plays the role of a bridge between Europe and Asia as an important actor in the formation of East-West, North-South and Middle corridors, the foundation of this is the “hope bridge”built on the Araz River in Nakhchivan thanks to the hard work of Heydar Aliyev. Today, Azerbaijan is considered the leading state of the Caucasus by all indicators, and it is based on Heydar Aliyev’s concept of socio-economic development. We can unequivocally say that Mr. Ilham Aliyev, as the worthy successor of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, is recognized as a global leader worldwide. The President of Azerbaijan won this thanks to his commitment to his promise, reliable partnership and, most importantly, his completely independent policy. There is no prestigious international gathering in the world where the President of Azerbaijan is not invited and does not make a speech. Because Mr. Ilham Aliyev voices the issues and truths that concern the world at all conferences and summits and calls on the powerful countries to fight the problems that threaten humanity and to show solidarity. This is once again confirmed by the initiatives and projects implemented by President Ilham Aliyev during his presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, which is the largest political organization in the world after the UN. Of course, all this is a visible manifestation of Mr. Ilham Aliyev’s growing international reputation. The fact that the President of Azerbaijan was invited for the second time as a guest of honor to the Summit of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Astana last week, and at the same time the leaders of the Turkic world once again demonstrated unity and solidarity from Karabakh, thanks to the diplomacy of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the growing prestige of Azerbaijan and the identity of our head of state as a global leader. is an indication of deep respect and reverence.The fact that the President of Azerbaijan was invited for the second time as a guest of honor to the Summit of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Astana last week, and at the same time the leaders of the Turkic world once again demonstrated unity and solidarity from Karabakh, thanks to the diplomacy of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the growing prestige of Azerbaijan and the identity of our head of state as a global leader. is an indication of deep respect and reverence.The realities created by the President of Azerbaijan, who is increasingly playing an important role in world politics, in the South Caucasus are also accepted by the international community. Security in the region is ensured through the peace agreement to be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This contract can be signed on the basis of the conditions proposed by Mr. Ilham Aliyev as the winning party.As the head of state noted, the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible only if the Armenian constitution is amended. In other words, Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan should be stopped. Otherwise there will be no peace. However, recent negotiations, border demarcation and delimitation process show that a peace agreement can be signed soon.If a peace agreement is signed, this gives reason to say that the region will develop comprehensively, and Azerbaijan will step confidently towards new victories with the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
