"Heydar Aliyev transformed Azerbaijan into an independent player in world politics"
May 10 marks the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people. Heydar Aliyev, who played an exceptional role in preserving Azerbaijani statehood, ensuring the country's political stability, and forming a modern model of statehood, is still remembered today as an influential political figure and a far-sighted leader in various countries around the world.
Political scientists representing various countries shared their thoughts on Heydar Aliyev with Modern.az.
Pakistani political scientist Khalid Taimur Akram: "It is the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the first and founding President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. People living outside the country remember him as one of the most influential and respected leaders in Azerbaijan's modern history.
When I think of Heydar Aliyev, I first recall his dedicated and strong leadership, his skill in state-building, and his ability to foster a sense of national unity among the people. For me, he is the architect of modern Azerbaijan and the leader who successfully guided his people through complex political and economic periods. Heydar Aliyev's services are highly valued for bringing stability and confidence to Azerbaijan during the difficult post-independence years.
His political experience, strategic thinking ability, and calm character made significant contributions to the strengthening of state institutions and the country's international position. Many supporters believe that the foundation of Azerbaijan's economic development and global partnerships was laid by his far-sighted policies.
In my country, Heydar Aliyev is more widely known as the "National Leader of Azerbaijan." This title expresses the deep respect and reverence the Azerbaijani people have for him. His speeches, policies, and style of governance are still studied and remembered by politicians, students, and researchers today.
One of the most important aspects of his legacy was his special emphasis on patriotism and national identity. He encouraged pride in Azerbaijani culture, history, and independence. For many people, Heydar Aliyev is considered an example of wisdom, discipline, and service to the state.
Despite the years that have passed since Heydar Aliyev's death, his influence is still felt today in Azerbaijan's political and social development. On this significant day, people remember his memory with gratitude and great respect, recalling him not only as a politician but also as a great statesman whose legacy lives on in the memory of the people."
Political scientist Neil Watson from Great Britain: "I value Heydar Aliyev as a visionary and pragmatic politician who rose from the highest levels of the Soviet Politburo and, risking his life, became the architect of modern independent Azerbaijan. His intelligence, resilience, and will allowed the country to gain true independence and preserve Azerbaijan's oil wealth.
Today, Azerbaijan stands as a self-sufficient state among former Soviet republics, pursues a pragmatic foreign policy, and possesses the leading economy in the South Caucasus. The strategic vision shaped by Heydar Aliyev has been continued with the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and your country is developing under the leadership of his son, President Ilham Aliyev, in the current complex international environment."
Ukrainian political scientist Stanislav Zhelikhovsky: "Yes, I congratulate you and all the people of Azerbaijan!
Heydar Aliyev is generally remembered as a strong and pragmatic statesman who played a crucial role in the formation of independent Azerbaijan and the strengthening of state institutions. In many countries, including Ukraine, he is associated with political stability, state-building, and Azerbaijan's growing influence in the international arena."
Georgian political scientist Giorgi Gogua: "When recalling Heydar Aliyev, strong leadership, political wisdom, strategic thinking, and ideas of national unity come to the forefront. He led the country during a period when Azerbaijan faced serious internal and external challenges, achieving the restoration of political stability, the strengthening of state institutions, and the creation of foundations for long-term development. Many experts value him as the architect of modern Azerbaijan and note that his policies transformed the country into a stable and influential regional actor.
One of the most important aspects of his legacy was his ability to have a strategic vision for the future. During Heydar Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan strengthened its international positions, developed large energy projects, and established important partnerships with global power centers. His political experience, diplomatic skill, and ability to maintain balance in a complex geopolitical environment earned him great respect beyond Azerbaijan's borders.
In many countries of the post-Soviet space, Heydar Aliyev is perceived as a strong and charismatic statesman, a leader with high political authority. He is often associated with stability, discipline, and the continuity of state traditions. In Azerbaijan, he is respectfully remembered by the people as the "National Leader," and this title expresses the deep respect given to his role in the country's history.
Overall, Heydar Aliyev's legacy is remembered as an example of loyalty to the state, national progress, and political resilience. His name remains closely linked to the strengthening of Azerbaijan's independence and the formation of modern Azerbaijani identity."
Italian political scientist Carlo Marino: "Heydar Aliyev represents a classic model of pragmatic leadership and national state-building in the post-Soviet space. Several key points related to his activities are particularly noteworthy.
Heydar Aliyev ensured a controlled transition from a Soviet republic to independent statehood. He prioritized stability, the unification of the political elite, and the gradual centralization of state institutions over rapid Western-style reforms.
He pursued a multi-vector foreign policy aimed at maintaining Azerbaijan's position between Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the West. The signing of the "Contract of the Century" (1994) and the implementation of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline (2006) were examples of strategically using energy resources to strengthen state sovereignty.
Heydar Aliyev is highly valued for his contributions to state-building and for preventing Azerbaijan from descending into chaos. In particular, the country's avoidance of processes such as civil conflict or territorial fragmentation experienced by Georgia or Armenia in the 1990s is associated with his name."
Israeli political scientist Igor Roytapel: "May 10 marks the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev – a personality whose name is eternally etched in the history of Azerbaijan. For some, Heydar Aliyev became a symbol of state stability. For others, he is the architect of modern Azerbaijani geopolitics. But even his critics admit that it was he who managed to transform a country that had experienced chaos, disintegration, and war into an independent player in world politics.
I was one of the witnesses of his return to big politics. At that time, I was working at the Main Archival Department while working on a textbook on the history of diplomacy. Even then, it was felt that a new stage was beginning in the Caucasus. Aliyev's return to power was not just perceived as a change of power. It was the return of political will, experience, and strategic thinking at a time when the state was at its most severe crisis point.
In the early 1990s, the region was plunged into deep instability. Economic crisis, military defeats, struggles among elites, and external pressures even questioned the country's existence. Heydar Aliyev's return to power in 1993 became a turning point. He returned not as a romantic of a new era, but as a pragmatic strategist who understood that weak states could not survive in geopolitics.
His approach was cool-headed, calculated, and far-sighted. Aliyev understood well that the country's main resource was energy. But oil and gas mean nothing if the state cannot transform those resources into political influence. That is why he prioritized a multi-vector diplomacy and energy independence policy.
The "Contract of the Century" signed in 1994 was not just an economic agreement. It was a geopolitical message to the whole world: Azerbaijan is emerging from the post-Soviet shadow and becoming part of the global system. Through energy projects, Baku began to build relations with Turkey, Europe, the USA, and Israel.
Israel was one of the first states to recognize Azerbaijan's independence. Israel recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 25, 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established as early as 1992.
Relations with Israel held a special place in Heydar Aliyev's strategy. In the complex reality of the Middle East, cooperation between Muslim Azerbaijan and Israel seemed a unique phenomenon. But for Heydar Aliyev, state interests always prevailed over ideological slogans.
In 1997, Heydar Aliyev met with Benjamin Netanyahu. Those contacts became an important part of the formation of a strategic partnership between the two states. It was then that the foundation was laid for relations that, decades later, would become one of Israel's most stable partners in the Muslim world.
Heydar Aliyev saw in Israel not only a strong ally in technology and security but also a strategic partner in matters of energy, defense, and international support.
Today, Azerbaijan–Israel cooperation covers energy, agriculture, medicine, high technologies, and the defense industry. A significant portion of the oil exported to Israel is of Azerbaijani origin. In turn, Israel has become one of Baku's main technological and military partners.
However, Heydar Aliyev's main legacy is not limited to contracts, pipelines, and diplomatic documents. His greatest contribution is the construction of a state model that can create a balance between world power centers and not lose its political subjectivity.
He saw the Caucasus as a complex chess game; where one mistake could cost the future of the state. Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the West had their own interests in the region. Aliyev built a system where Azerbaijan did not become a satellite of any power, but instead began to play its own strategic game.
Decades later, it is clear that many decisions that seemed controversial in the 1990s formed the basis of today's Azerbaijan's position. Azerbaijan has become one of Eurasia's most important energy and transport hubs, and its influence in the South Caucasus has significantly increased.
History rarely grants politicians the right to be called the architect of an era. Heydar Aliyev earned this right. His political legacy continues to define not only Azerbaijan's course but also the political architecture of the region as a whole.
His 103rd birthday is not just a date of remembrance. It is an opportunity to re-understand how one person changed the fate of a state and transformed Azerbaijan into a country that is reckoned with even far beyond the Caucasus."
