Loving memory of national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev was commemorated in Moscow, 12 December.[devider] The event began with laying flowers at the bust of Heydar Aliyev in the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. The ceremony continued at the Azerbaijan Culture Center recently opened in Moscow with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The event demonstrated a video about main stages of the national leader’s life and activities.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu, opening the ceremony, noted that Heydar Aliyev devoted his bright and meaningful life to his nation, motherland and statehood. The Ambassador said: “The Azerbaijani nation will always remember the loving memory of the great leader. Today, Heydar Aliyev is commemorated in every place where Azerbaijanis live.”

Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Head of the Foundation’s Russia Office Leyla Aliyeva spoke at the event. L.Aliyeva said that 12 December is a sorrowful day. It is a day when great person, prominent politician and leader of Azerbaijani nation Heydar Aliyev passed away. This day is a very sad day for the Azerbaijani nation. Mrs Aliyeva said: “I witnessed how the Azerbaijani nation was filled up with sorrow on 12 December 2003. This grief could be felt in each family, each house. The pain of this loss will always remain in the hearts of all Azerbaijanis in the world. Heydar Aliyev was not solely a president of the country that he saved from separation, disorder and civil war. He was a great politician that the world knew and consulted with. He was a great man and leader of his nation and will remain as a national leader even after his demise.”

Leyla Aliyeva stressed that Heydar Aliyev is not among us for already eight years. But he is alive in any sense. The Vice President of the Foundation said: “He lives in flourishing Azerbaijan, improving Baku, new roads, buildings, sport complexes, airports, schools, museums, theaters…. He lives and sees how Baku is turning into one of the most beautiful cities in the world. He lived in all noble acts of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which bears his name, in culture, science, education, health, ecology and philanthropy spheres. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation in a short period of time managed to gain confidence and support of people of all categories. Therefore, Heydar Aliyev lives and continues to do good deeds for his beloved nation and country.”

Leyla Aliyeva thanked attendees for remembering Heydar Aliyev’s memory with love and dignity. She called it as a symbolic event held at the Azerbaijan Culture Center, which did a lot within a short period of time. L.Aliyeva said: “I am sure that the Center will develop and become even better since Heydar Aliyev always trusted only the best.”

Member of Milli Mejlis, renowned publicist, author of a range of books about Heydar Aliyev, Elmira Akhundova delivered a broad lecture about the foreign policy of Heydar Aliyev both during the Soviet period and after Azerbaijan became independent. Mrs Akhundova noted that having an important position in USSR, Heydar Aliyev led the Eastern policy of Kremlin and during the period of independence, he led sovereign Azerbaijan’s multilateral foreign policy. Many world leaders and researchers noted his rich knowledge and experience in diplomacy. She presented her four-volume “Personality and time”, also books “Times of Reality” and “Murder of polygraphist” to the Azerbaijan Culture Center.

Chief of the Center of Strategic Studies under Moscow State Institute of International Relations Stanislaw Chernyavski spoke about different features of Heydar Aliyev personality and said: “As a diplomat having worked in Azerbaijan, it was always interesting and pleasant for me to listen to his speeches. He skillfully managed to maintain political powers within the country in balance. Works of Heydar Aliyev and his instructions, supervised by himself, were changing Azerbaijan’s image day by day. This enables Azerbaijan to take a worthy position in international arena. It is very nice that Azerbaijan today confidently follows the way started by Heydar Aliyev. The country’s current president Ilham Aliyev continues his path of activity. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation also gives a great contribution to the continuation of this activity.”

Secretary General of All-Russia Congress of Azerbaijanis Mikayil Huseynov spoke about the contribution of Heydar Aliyev to uniting Azerbaijani diaspora and importance of this factor in introducing information about Azerbaijani realities, as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Daghlig Garabagh conflict objectively to the world community. M.Huseynov noted the significance of 31 December – Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis, constituted by Heydar Aliyev. The Secretary General said that the All-Russia Congress of Azerbaijanis commemorates Heydar Aliyev in many regions of Russia.

Turkish ambassador to Russia Aydin Sezgin, representatives of Azerbaijan and Russian communities, as well as Azerbaijani youth and students from Moscow universities also participated at the event.