Heydar Aliyev (1923 – 2003)
Also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev, was the president of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.
Heydar Aliyev’s wise words about Nakhchivan.
I would like you, and as well as the Nakhchivanese residing outside Nakhchivan, carry the Nakhchivanese name in honor.
I can tell that, I regard the three years when I lived in Nakhchivan and worked with the people of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to be the most honorable and fruitful period in my life.
The geographical situation of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic which is the constituent part of the Azerbaijan Republic is so that, protection the lands of our country and its borders from this province is highly important.
Nakhchivan is not the same as it was in 1991-92-93. Nakhchivan is entirely another now. Nakhchivanese have earned this right. Nakhchivanese earned this right by their faith, tolerance, honor, bravery and moral.
Nakhchivan is one of the ancient places of Azerbaijan; it is the part of Azerbaijan rich history and it is a land of Azerbaijan with 3500 years of history. This history is full with rich events. All these make a testimony to the fact that to what extend Nakhchivan is, was, and will be valuable for Azerbaijan.
I am pride of that I am chosen the honorable doctor of the universities of many countries having the rich history. But I am more pride of that I am a doctor of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic’s University named after Yusif Mammadaliyev.
Nakhchivan is my native land.
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic’s Status is established in the Constitution, it is determined forever.
Nakhchivan people here have shown me a great respect, care, love and in the most difficult moments they have been helpful for me, they supported me, they have always been with me. That is why we worked, struggled and won.
You have proved that you are faithful to your land, people, and nation and to your holy Azerbaijan and you also witnessed the fact that I am also devoted to the Azerbaijan people, to Azerbaijan land and as well as to my native place Nakhchivan.
Nakhchivan is an Autonomous Government included into the structure of the Azerbaijan Republic.
My heart is as full about Nakhchivan even if I speak much about it will not be sufficient.
I ask Congressmen why they have such close relations with Armenia, and they say that the Armenian Diaspora gives them a lot of money. Is that corruption or not?
There are many beauties in Nakhchivan. Its nature comes first.
Recently there are going the construction works in Nakhchivan-there are built schools, hospitals and houses for living.
Nakhchivan took me into its bosom. It protected, kept me and I also protected them, kept them.
It is not incidental that as it is now also ten years ago, twenty years ago, thirty years ago in Azerbaijan the specialists dealing with science, academicians, professors, university teachers or the people working at the Academy of Sciences, Scientific research institutes have started their life path from Nakhchivan.
The lessons that I learned at Nakhchivan School as well as the lessons of mother language and literature together with others constitute the main part of my language in nowadays.
Don’t let the way to the people bringing bad reputation to Nakhchivan.