Russia, Moscow / corr Trend R.Agayev / The Moscow State Institute of International Relationships (MSIIR) hosted a solemn evening dedicated to the 84th birthday of the Azerbaijani great national leader the late Heydar Aliyev, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia and the Co-ordinating Council of the Azerbaijani Youth.
Igor Tulin, the first vice rector of the MSIIR, noted that the celebration of Heydar Aliyev's birthday at the Institute was planned and totally symbolic, because thanks to his constant attention and care during his post as the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Minister of the USSR, the MSIIR still exists to this day at the university. Tulin stated that MSIIR is proud to honour this great leader the title of Honorary Doctor inter vivos. "We are also proud that the present Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev graduated and taught at MSIIR, and in turn his daughter, Heydar Aliyev's granddaughter, is studying at the MSIIR doing a special masters degree. I should also note that over 50 students from Azerbaijan are studying at the University and regard it as their home," Tulin added.
Later a photographic documentary and video chronicle depicting Heydar Aliyev's activities was demonstrated.
Leyla Aliyeva, head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's Representation in Russia, spoke about, the difficult and glorious pages of the great leader's biography. Aliyeva noted that fate played a big part in Heydar Aliyev a special mission on a national scale. After Heydar Aliyev's resignation, the Armenian separatists raised an issue on the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyeva stressed that though Heydar Aliyev could be in Azerbaijan during the 20th January events of 1990, he stated his decisive protest and was always behind the people of Azerbaijan.
"Heydar Aliyev returned to Azerbaijan in the difficult days for his Motherland and immediately undertook to implement his key mission, the rehabilitation and consolidation of independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev did a great service for the country: he stopped the bloodshed, created the Constitution and founded an oil strategy, and from this laid the foundation of a strong, developed and powerful country - democratic Azerbaijan," Aliyeva emphasized.
She also spoke about the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's activities, marking that over its 3-years, the Foundation gained approval and support of the population. "The representation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation established in Moscow will consolidate the friendship and co-operation between the two nations," he assured.
Later on a documentary depicting the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's activities was demonstrated. Tatiana Anodina, the chairman of the International Aviation Committee, Nikolay Zinkovich, a writer and author of a book "Heydar Aliyev - fate zigzag", Senator Alexander Dzasokhov, the chairman of the Russian Commission on UNESCO affairs and other dignatories shared their warm recollections about the late Heydar Aliyev.
Dzasokhov said that Heydar Aliyev's personality can only be compared only with Kemal Ataturk and Charlesde Gaulle. Commenting on Dzasokhov's words, the renowned singer, Iosif Kobzon, stated, "Heydar Aliyev cannot be compared with anyone - Heydar Aliyev is Heydar Aliyev."
Iosif Kabzon, People's Artist of USSR, the chairman of the Culture Committee of the State Duma, repeatedly stressed his envy to the people of Azerbaijan because of God's gift of a genuine man like Heydar Aliyev. He particularly noted Heydar Aliyev's incomparable attention to culture, his excellent knowledge of history and culture, as well as his constant attention and care to culture employees which should be an example for state leaders.
Polad Bulbuloglu, the Azerbaijani Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary, noted in his remarks that they became familiar with Heydar Aliyev in 1962. Thanks to the reign as an outstanding national leader's Heydar Aliyev, culture, which were always in the fore-front, prospered during that period despite tough censorship, Names of world famous musical figures, such Gara Garayev, Fikret Amirov, Niyazi, Rashid Behbudov, Muslim Magomayev, and Zeynab Khanlarova became popular namely during Heydar Aliyev's ruling in the country and they glorified Azerbaijan worldwide., the diplomat noted that Heydar Aliyev is an architect of the contemporary Azerbaijan and the current mutual relationships between Russia and Azerbaijan. Following its own political course, Azerbaijan has become a strategic partner of Russia. Azerbaijan, jointly with Russia, demonstrates its just case at an international level, the diplomat added.
During the event Murad Adigozlezade, the Azerbaijani honored culture figure, and winner of many international contests, Elchin Azizov, as well as Kobzon performed several songs. A photo-exhibition depicting Heydar Aliyev's life and activities was organized at the hall of the University. Books written by Miralimov and Andrianov dedicated to Heydar Aliyev were distributed amongst the guests.
Attending the celebration party were the Russian and Azerbaijani public representatives.