The Azerbaijani people today celebrate one of the most important turning points in modern statehood history – June 15, National Salvation Day. On this day in 1993, the return of national leader Heydar Aliyev to power saved the country from internal chaos and the threat of disintegration, laying the foundation for today's stability.
In a statement to Oxu.Az, Lütvali Shikhaliyev, former chairman of the Saatly district organization of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and a famous member of the "91ers," spoke about the historical mission of the national leader. He noted that personalities like Heydar Aliyev are rare in the world.
"As a district organization, we have always participated in the events of the great leader and celebrated his birthdays in a special way. Heydar Aliyev's name is special in the history of Azerbaijani statehood and independence. He loved Azerbaijan above all. When he came to power, he well understood the responsibility. Shortly after becoming President of Azerbaijan, he began to make serious decisions. He worked day and night for the country's development. It should be emphasized that National Salvation Day is the glorious history of statehood when national leader Heydar Aliyev returned to political power in 1993 at the insistent demand of the people and saved the country from disintegration. This return eliminated the internal chaos, the threat of civil war, and acute geopolitical contradictions. The great leader's coming to power paved the way for the signing of global oil contracts and the 'Contract of the Century,' which became the foundation for future development. The personality of the national leader, his unique political management ability, determination, and foresight ended the crisis, and our people united around the ideas of Azerbaijanism. Thanks to the wisdom and determination of the national leader, civil confrontation in Azerbaijan was ended once and for all, our country was saved from chaos, political strife, and socio-economic crisis. Azerbaijan began to develop as an independent, democratic, legal, and secular state, problems were solved step by step, and political stability was established."
L. Shikhaliyev added that Heydar Aliyev worked for his people without expecting anything in return: "Everyone knows what kind of person he was. Someone like Heydar Aliyev rarely comes into the world. Before the 1998 elections, a meeting was held in Sabirabad, and the great leader attended. We met Heydar Aliyev there. The national leader was a very calm, quiet person who knew the exact time for everything. He was religious for the faithful, hardworking for the industrious, and a leader for politicians. Unfortunately, we lost a person like him. The people sincerely believed in him."
