A ceremony held on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and 7th anniversary of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's activity
Solemn ceremony on the 88th birthday of national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the 7th anniversary of establishment of Heydar Aliyev Foundation was held at Buta Palace, May 10.
President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.
Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, delivered a speech in the ceremony.
Address by Mehriban Aliyeva:
- Dear Mr President!
Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen.
I cordially greet you in a traditional ceremony that Heydar Aliyev Foundation has arranged this year, as the 10th of May every year. I welcome all the guests having come to Azerbaijan to participate in the ceremony and express you my deep gratitude for being with us this evening.
This year, Azerbaijan celebrates the 20th anniversary of the restoration of its state independence. Possessing ancient history and rich culture, Azerbaijan has been existing on the world map as an independent country for 20 years only. 20 years is not a long period of history. However, our country has gained huge successes for these 20 years. Today, Azerbaijan is a leader country in the region breaking a record of development in different fields, building partnerships with world’s leading states, enjoying influence in the international arena. Today, Azerbaijan is a strong state able to get all its goals and looking into future with hope.
We should mention our past was not so smooth and easy. We had a lot of problems, difficulties, pains. Applying to each of the years left behind, on every page of our modern history we see the indelible traces of genius Heydar Aliyev. The great leader has a big share in every project performed, every success achieved in these 20 years, no matter he is not with us.
Let us remember the first years of our independence. The serious crisis dominating in our country had different reasons and I would not like to count them this evening. In short, as if we were deprived of light. Lights of hope inside us were off, like lights in our city. Heydar Aliyev brought our light, our hope back. He freed the country from the big disasters and, relying on the people of Azerbaijan, began to write a glorious page of our new, modern history. In far 1993, not everyone believed that a day would come and all dreams, ideas, plans of Heydar Aliyev will come true. Despite all difficulties, he successfully realized the oil strategy of Azerbaijan and laid the basis of our future victories and achievements.
The life of Heydar Aliyev, the great person, has become the symbol of serving the people and motherland. Repeating today ‘I am proud of being Azerbaijani’, one of his most favorite phrases, we bow before his unforgettable memory.
Dear friends, today, the Foundation named after Heydar Aliyev has been operating for 7 years already. In the past year, the Foundation implemented a number of large-scale projects, significant works. As usual, we have tried to cover various spheres, science, education, public health, culture, social problems.
Comprehensive information will be sounded this evening on the Foundation’s activities, a film will be shown. Our biggest success for these 7 years was the confidence and respect of the Azerbaijani people we have gained. Taking this opportunity, I once again want to assure everyone that Heydar Aliyev Foundation is ready to work also in the future for today and tomorrow of Azerbaijan. I express my deep thanks to every person, every governmental and non-governmental organization supporting us, international organizations cooperating with us.
Dear friends, I hope this wonderful evening arranged by Heydar Aliyev Foundation will leave none of you indifferent. I express my deep gratitude to everyone, in particular to the team of Heydar Aliyev Foundation for organizing this evening. I wish you success, happiness and love. God bless Azerbaijan. Thank you so much.