(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Azerbaijani
delegation led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba
Gafarova arrived in the Federation Council of the federal Assembly
of Russian Federation on May 15 to Moscow to participate in the
events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Great Leader Heydar
Aliyev, trend reports.
Head of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko met Sahiba
Gafarova in front of the FC building, after which the Azerbaijani
delegation proceeded to attend the launch of an exhibition
celebrating the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev
and organised with the support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Aide to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov,
MPs, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu, the TASS
Agency officials, the FC members and others were also present at
the event.
In her opening speech, Chair of the Federation Council Valentina
Matviyenko talked of the life and political path of National Leader
Heydar Aliyev, the creator of modern Azerbaijan – the life and the
path covered by the photos exhibited at the event.
Chair Gafarova expressed gratitude for the excellent
organisation of the exhibition, in turn, before pointing out that a
large part of Azerbaijan's modern history is associated with the
founder of national statehood and prominent political figure Heydar
Aliyev – a genius who inscribed his name in the history of
Azerbaijan forevermore and who had devoted his whole life to
serving the Azerbaijani people.
“Heydar Aliyev's leadership qualities, far-sighted policy and
unbending will were vividly demonstrated both in Soviet times and
at the most fateful moments of Azerbaijan as an independent state.
The administrative vectors changed dramatically in all the areas
with Heydar Aliyev's assumption of power in Azerbaijan in 1969.
Then, successful implementation of comprehensive development
programmes made Azerbaijan join the rank of the most advanced
Soviet republics,“ she said.
During his tenure as First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council
of Ministers and Member of the Politburo, Heydar Aliyev played an
essential part in the implementation of several infrastructure
projects across the USSR, most remarkably, the construction of the
Baikal-Amur Mainline, she added.
Gafarova also referred to Heydar Aliyev's outstanding services
in expanding and solidifying the international relations of the
former USSR.
“Azerbaijan was in dire need of Heydar Aliyev's vast experience
and unique abilities even after regaining independence, so the
Great Leader assumed the historic mission of rescuing the country
from crisis, instability in all walks of life, the threat of
disintegration and an economic, social, political recession. The
modern Azerbaijani statehood, the opus magnum of the National
Leader, is now developing dynamically under the leadership of
President Ilham Aliyev.
The invaluable role played by Heydar Aliyev in developing and
strengthening comprehensive relations with Russia, the relations
based on equitable co-operation, respect for each other's interests
and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, was also
emphasised duly. The strategic collaboration that had been the
redline in our inter-state relations resting on the foreign policy
course of the National Leader has by now evolved into alliance and
allied co-operation relying on shared respect, mutual trust and
sensitivity towards each other's interests. At present, the
historical traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness of our
states as well as their political dialogue and humanitarian
interaction are dynamically developing thanks to the endeavours of
President Ilham Aliyev and President Vladimir Putin.
We are a happy nation that has been able to fulfil all the
political tenets of Heydar Aliyev, having done so under the
leadership of our President Ilham Aliyev. The most notable of those
was liberating Karabakh from Armenian occupation and with making
our territorial integrity whole again and restoring our
sovereignty,” Gafarova said.
She also pointed out the efforts of President Vladimir Putin and
Russia's part in the signing of the Trilateral Statement ending the
war in the presence of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and
Armenia in 2020.
“Great Leader Heydar Aliyev always believed that the people of
Azerbaijan would restore historic justice for their country and
would bring peace and prosperity to all those living in the South
Caucasus. After all, cessation of armed conflicts and their
outright exclusion from the system of inter-state relations are in
the interests of all the peoples. Heydar Aliyev's historic forecast
telling us that we were going to return to our lands, to Shusha,
Lachin, Kalbajar and Jabrayil, has proven correct. The liberated
territories are undergoing rapid reconstruction; powerful
infrastructural projects are afoot to ensure their early return to
peaceful life,” she added.
Concluding her speech, Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament said
that, glancing back over the recent history, we can see today how
many grand deeds Heydar Aliyev had accomplished for the benefit of
the country and for each Azerbaijani. The thankful nation will
always cherish the memory of its great son and his memory lives in
the public heart.
Gafarova thanked Chair of the RF Federation Council Valentina
Matviyenko and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The artistic part of the event had children perform excerpts
from Heydar Aliyev's favourite verses in Azerbaijani and
Russian.
The event was followed by a meeting of the Speakers of the Milli
Majlis and the RF Federation Council at which Gafarova expressed
deep gratitude for the care of the memory of Great Leader Heydar
Aliyev.
Also, the two speakers shared views on the current state and
growth prospects of the Russian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary
relations and exchanged thoughts on other matters of interest.