Azerbaijan, Baku, June 11 / Trend U.Sadikhova /
Former Azerbaijani President and national leader Heydar Aliyev played a major role in restoring and preserving the country's statehood, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Relations Department official Rasim Mirzoyev said today at the conference on " Role of leaders in the history of the Turkic state."
The event was organized by the Turkish University Graduates Public Association and the Azerbaijani New Generation Public Youth Association. The conference was devoted to the forthcoming National Salvation Day.
According to Mirzoyev, Aliyev was a legendary individual characterized by qualities such as justice, courage, sincerity and intelligence. The country must unite around his ideas and pursue his path, he added. He also noted the Turkic world's contribution in countries across the globe.
Turkish University Graduates Public Association Chairman Chingiz Bayramov said Aliyev's merits led to the creation of a Turkic state that has no analogue anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile, the association's Secretary General Rauf Aliyev added that if Aliyev had not ruled the country, then Azerbaijan would have lost not 20 percent of its territory, but rather 80 percent, and would have likely been wiped off the political map.
"He saved not only Azerbaijan, but the entire Turkic world," he said.
Azerbaijan is the interlink of the Turkic world, as Turkey's relations with Central Asia pass directly through Azerbaijan, he added.
"The future of the Turkic world depends on Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation," the secretary general said. "And for our success, we should be grateful to Aliyev."
