Prominent personalities demonstrate the intelligence, science, culture and morality of our people to the world. The moral values of people are not only formed in labour and social activity, but also in the family.
Heydar Aliyev
National Leader
There is no great nation in the history of mankind that does not have a leader who ensures its sustainable development at any complex and fateful stage, who forms the strategic and ideological structure of the national statehood institution. After the second half of the 20th century, national leader, world-class politician and statesman – Heydar Aliyev, who had an exceptional place and role in the history of our country, established the institution of national statehood. He is an incomparable head of state, a legendary people's leader, whose name is written in golden letters in the history of national statehood. President Ilham Aliyev is a new, pragmatic and reformist leader of Azerbaijan in the XXI century, who is a successful member and representative of Heydar Aliyev’s school of national statehood. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, former MP, scientist, world-renowned patron of our national culture, is also a member of the National Leader's school of national statehood. Having all these qualities First Lady of the country is a prominent, high-status female leader of Azerbaijan with a prestigious position, high reputation and high authority.
While writing about Mehriban Aliyeva, first of all, we remember that she was born and raised in a noble family and received a perfect education. Starting her young ages, she mastered political training and comprehensive socio-moral review in the inner cycle of great political and national leader Heydar Aliyev; socio-cultural behaviour, human nobility and compassion inherited from academician Zarifa Aliyeva; national intellectual mentality sawn learned from his grandfathers, who were prominent writers such as Mir Jalal and master journalists such as Nasir Imanguliyev; exemplary family upbringing received from parents such as academician Arif Pashayev and professor Aida khanum Imanguliyeva. All of these have been a solid foundation of the current high point where Mehriban Aliyeva has reached, and also is a natural and enthusiastic source for the creation of a new historical example in the national intelligentsia by First Lady of Azerbaijan who is a great personality known in the world, an influential socio-political figure.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, is a civil society organization, distinguished by its large-scale, benevolent activities and major projects in the world. Named after the great leader, this unique institution, which pioneers and sets an example in the service of the celebration of his ideas and deeds, has an unparalleled reputation in the country and around the world, carrying out various activities in the fields of health, education, science, culture and spirituality.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva represents a unique leadership characteristic in the modern world as a strong woman who respects and values the traditions of Azerbaijan. Being based on a set of higher values her multifaceted and effective work is as an example not only for women but also for young girls. Along with reflecting the interests of the Azerbaijani people and state in the international arena, Mehriban Aliyeva also introduces the socio-political image of a modern Azerbaijani woman to the world. First Lady of Azerbaijan, who has a special place and services in the political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual progress of our country, has now become an example of a leading woman in the world who has her own voice and prestige.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva is a political and cultural leader who has made great contributions to the formation of the institution of national statehood in our country, a world-renowned and accepted humanist figure with a multifaceted field of activity. Her name is already written in the history of modern Azerbaijan as a modern and phenomenon female leader.
The formation and rise of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva as a female leader were made possible by her inner talent, ability, perfect education, pragmatic intellect, and the fact that she learned from the moral and political school of such a great strategist and leader Heydar Aliyev. In the opinion of First Lady of Azerbaijan: “The great leader Heydar Aliyev was a wise, strong, courageous man with a broad intellect and invincible will. At the same time, as a member of his family, I would like to say that he was a very kind, compassionate and humanist person. He was very simple and fair to ordinary people."
Another important indicator of Mehriban Aliyeva's phenomenon is her ability to easily implement initiatives to implement numerous human projects, combining Eastern nationalism with Western modernity. When the first vice-presidential institution was established in Azerbaijan with the appointment of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, a high-level "Mrs Aliyeva" addressing was introduced to the world gender policy space both in Azerbaijan and in the world. This appointment was an acceptance and confirmation of the leadership opportunities of Azerbaijani women in the political platform and the management structure.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva embodied the legitimate arrival of the phenomenon of "female leader" and image of “female chief” in the gender culture of independent Azerbaijan. With her direct initiative modernization and renewal of the architectural image of the capital and most parts of the country, their transformation into modern, well-groomed, worth seeing cities and regions of the world is one of the heart-warming realities of recent years. The support of the First Vice President for President Ilham Aliyev's line of modernization and comprehensive progress, as well as her services in this area, are undeniable. The revival of centuries-old Azerbaijani mugham, national ashiq music, folk arts such as carpet weaving and other cultural trends, as well as the introduction of this unique heritage to the world is also associated with the name and benevolent activity of Mehriban Aliyeva.
First Lady’s hard work, tireless effort and organizational talent in the realization of various music and sports competitions, such as "Eurovision" song contest, European and Islamic sports games, etc. are highly valued all over the world In her activity, First Vice-President with confidence and consistency mainly implements large-scale historical projects in three directions:
- first, close participation in the successful implementation of complex projects related to the course of socio-economic and political development of the country;
- secondly, supporting the state policy in revealing our independent republic as a complex socio-cultural, socio-humanitarian “Azerbaijan model” and promoting it in the world;
- Thirdly, as a sensitive and compassionate compatriot, as a woman leader, in the hard times of her homeland - whether during the April wars, Tovuz events, or the severe COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a place of hope as a constant companion of the Azerbaijani people.
In recent months, the sense of sincerity, patriotism and care in her addresses to the people with the signature of "Your Mehriban" has once again made every Azerbaijani citizen adore her, and the name of "Our Mehriban Aliyeva" was written with love in the hearts of millions. Earlier, First Lady expressed her respect and care for the victims of the April War by entering the Heydar Aliyev Mosque with a blanket, sitting next to the martyrs’ mothers, sisters and daughters and sharing their grief. Within this greatest esteem and sublime communication, the national character of a compassionate mother, a caring political figure was reflected.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva’s appointment to the First Vice-presidency was a continuation of the tradition, giving the right to women to be elected by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, and successful implementation of the state women's policy of the great leader Heydar Aliyev, and also was a historic event in the consistent realisation of the Law “On Ensuring Gender Equality” signed by President Ilham Aliyev. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva's great reputation both in our country and in the international arena, her pragmatic support in the rise of national statehood, and her business position in socio-cultural progress have confirmed that she is a loyal and capable student of the great leader Heydar Aliyev's statehood institution.
The admiration of Azerbaijani citizens for the country's first lady is undeniable. Kindness is in her deeds, compassion is in her morality, loyalty to the state is in her belief. First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva has demonstrated that she is the undisputed leader of the country's women with her charismatic image, attractive face and modern thinking.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva is also the Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party. The support by the First Vice President for the priority of a strong state-prosperous society plays an important role in the necessary reformism, comprehensive progress and renewal course of the leader of the ruling party –President Ilham Aliyev. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, the mission of First Lady and Female Leader, faithfully continuing the political and ideological line of national leader Heydar Aliyev, forming a unique tandem.
The leadership of President Ilham Aliyev who realized the intention of “Development is our goal” and “Modern Azerbaijan” model and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva’s first lady and female leader mission is unique tandem serving faithfully to the continuation of the Heydar Aliyev's political and ideological line.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva is a loyal associate of President Ilham Aliyev, the undisputed politician-strategist of XXI century Azerbaijan, and the second-highest person of the renewed state leadership of Azerbaijan.
I would like to end this article with the discretion of the First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva in the article "Life Lesson" which is about the perfection of the national leader Heydar Aliyev's school: "The essence of Heydar Aliyev's lessons is still learned by his peers. Heydar Aliyev is a participant, creator, presenter of the fateful pages of the history of the XX century, a citizen, personality, leader who has borne the responsibility of Azerbaijan on his shoulders for more than 30 years with bringing it out of the trials of history as a state and a nation. The destiny of the motherland - Azerbaijan is forever connected with its name and destiny."
Mehriban Aliyeva, the second great member of this school, who said "God bless Azerbaijan" and became a favourite of the people with an exceptional role and position in the successful continuance of the great leader Heydar Aliyev's national statehood policy and realisation President Ilham Aliyev's "Strong Azerbaijan" model. Mrs Aliyeva portrayed the image of a modern Azerbaijani woman profoundly in our country and the international arena, and her name is proudly written in the history of world gender.
Rena MIRZAZADE,
Head of the department of the Institute of Philosophy of ANAS,
professor, chairman of the Women's Council of ANAS
