The Diplomat
Last Thursday, the Azerbaijani Embassy held an event at its diplomatic headquarters to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev.
In his speech, Azerbaijani Ambassador Ramiz Hasanov stressed that “the progress and development of modern Azerbaijan is directly related to the name of Heydar Aliyev, who devoted most of his life to the Azerbaijani people.” He also stressed that “Azerbaijan, after regaining its independence in 1991, faced a difficult situation: the power crisis in 1991-1993 brought the country into a state of civil war, and Armenia, taking advantage of the situation, tried to divide Azerbaijan and take away its independence.”
“As a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan and its policy of ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijani people,” Ambassador Hasanov continued, “20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory – the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts – were occupied, more than 1 million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons.”
“At the request of the Azerbaijani people,” the ambassador continued, “on 15 June 1993 Heydar Aliyev returned to power. Thanks to the wisdom of the National Leader, his rich political experience and unshakable determination, the young independent republic was saved from imminent disaster, stability in domestic and foreign policy was established, a ceasefire was reached in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; the country entered a new era of development. For his great work and merits the “Azerbaijani people awarded Heydar Aliyev the high distinction of ‘National Leader of Azerbaijan'”.
The ceremony was attended by the Embassy staff, representatives of the Spanish society, local media and Azerbaijanis living in Spain.
