"The Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, remembered for his exceptional services in the modern statehood history of Azerbaijan, approached the development of the education sector, like all other areas, with particular sensitivity. The people's literacy, modern thinking, and adherence to national values were considered a fundamental condition for the state's progress, and for this reason, education always remained a priority direction in Heydar Aliyev's activities."
These words were stated by Mehriban Valiyeva, a member of the New Azerbaijan Party and a deputy of the Milli Majlis, in a statement to AzEdu.az.
The deputy stated that thanks to the consistent reforms he implemented, Azerbaijan was able to preserve its education system even during the most difficult and complex periods:
"In the early 1990s, Heydar Aliyev, who saved the people from the threat of fratricide and civil war and resolutely prevented the country's collapse, laid the foundation for the political stability of independent Azerbaijan. His unwavering will and statehood position pulled the country out of the threat of complete collapse and brought it to a new stage of development. The steps taken towards strengthening Azerbaijan's international prestige were also the result of the Great Leader's farsighted policy. Heydar Aliyev's diplomatic activity introduced our country as a reliable partner in the global political arena. The 'Contract of the Century,' signed in 1994, laid the foundation for Azerbaijan's future development not only economically but also geopolitically. This strategic step, while shaping our country's energy policy, also rapidly strengthened its economic independence.
The progressive Constitution adopted at the initiative of the Great Leader, as the main document of legal state-building, created the institutional basis for democratic development. The commissioning of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline further strengthened Azerbaijan's role on the international energy map, accelerating our country's integration into the global economic system. Heydar Aliyev also played an unparalleled role in the formation of the political system. The New Azerbaijan Party, established under his leadership, is today the largest political organization in the Caucasus, playing a significant role in the state's development and stability. The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, once chaired by the Great Leader, also operates today precisely on the sound foundations he laid, forming the legislative assurance for the successful policy implemented by the head of state. The traces of Heydar Aliyev's historical activity are still preserved with great pride in the Parliament building today."
"One of the Great Leader's greatest services was raising a strong, wise, and resolute political successor after him," M. Valiyeva added:
"Today, President Mr. Ilham Aliyev, as the heir to that strategic course, has further increased Azerbaijan's power. As a result of the victory achieved in the 2020 Patriotic War and the 2023 anti-terror measures, Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur were liberated from occupation and became a historical triumph of Heydar Aliyev's ideas. Today, the humanitarian, social, and cultural projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation both domestically and internationally contribute greatly to the preservation of the Great Leader's legacy. Under the leadership of Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, the Foundation's activities serve to recognize Azerbaijan as a center of humanism and culture in the global arena.
Under the leadership of President, Commander-in-Chief Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has successfully continued the strategic development path defined by the Great Leader, becoming the leading state in the region. The strengthening of our independence, the increase in economic power, the improvement of military might, and the elevation of social welfare are clear results of the consistent implementation of Heydar Aliyev's ideas in the modern era. The historical truth is this: the development model defined by Heydar Aliyev still forms the basis of Azerbaijan's progress, stability, and long-term strategic goals today."
