Envoy pays tribute to Azerbaijani national leader

Khazar Farhadov says ties with Pakistan based on ancient traditions

ISLAMABAD:

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov has said that Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy friendly relations and these ties are based on ancient historical traditions of both countries.

Addressing an event arranged to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of Azerbaijan, he said, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations, which were constructed by Heydar Aliyev.

The ties between the two brotherly countries are at a high level in all fields, he added.

The ambassador further said that Pakistan was one of the first states to recognise Azerbaijan after it declared independence and Heydar Aliyev, he said, was the architect of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations.

The ambassador said Pakistan is our second home and we are proud of our friendship with Pakistan.

“The government and people of both countries always support each other in difficult times.”

On the occasion, Federal Minister for Defense Production Asrar Tareen, civil and military representatives, diplomats, and prominent personalities from various sectors were present.

Moreover, Khazar Farhadov said that relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan have been established for a long time and these relations are developing day by day.

“Our culture and civilization are very similar to each other. Our culture is our identity and we are crazy about Pakistani culture.”

Speaking about the leadership qualities of his country’s national leader, he said Heydar Aliyev proved that he was a visionary and decisive politician when he first led the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1969-1982. As a result of the intense activities of Heydar Aliyev, great successes were achieved in the economy, industry, agriculture, education, and culture, the envoy said.

“The adoption of the Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1978 and the establishment of the Azerbaijani language as the state language are the services of national leader Heydar Aliyev.”

At that time, when the totalitarian Soviet regime ruled, the determination of the legal basis for the preservation and development of the moral wealth of the Azerbaijani people, especially the language, in the supreme law of the republic was considered a very brave step, the envoy added. In 1991, Heydar Aliyev was elected as chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan. In May-June 1993, when Azerbaijan was on the verge of civil war, the people of Azerbaijan demanded to bring Heydar Aliyev to power, he said.

On June 15, 1993, Aliyev was elected as chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan, and on June 24 took the office of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On October 3, 1993, in a nationwide voting which saw a high turnout, he was elected as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. When Heydar Aliyev came to power, he eliminated chaos and anarchy, economic and political difficulties in the country, the envoy concluded.

Later in the event, famous artists from Azerbaijan enthralled the audience with wonderful performances.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the artists said they received immense support and respect from Pakistani audiences.

Additional input from APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2023.