Ilham Aliyev pays tribute to the grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev

December 12 is marked with the 9th anniversary of the death of the architect and founder of the independent Azerbaijan, world-renowned politician, national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Great part of Azerbajan`s history is associated with national leader Heydar Aliyev. Having assumed power in 1969 for the first time, the national leader made crisis-hit Azerbaijan one of the leading republics of the Soviet Union in 1970-1985.

In 1993, when Azerbaijan was on the verge of collapsing the people trusted their future to Heydar Aliyev. And thanks to his rich political and statehood experience, resoluteness and firm will, the national leader saved the young country and his people from tragedy.

On December 12, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also visited the Alley of Honors to commemorate national leader Heydar Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the national leader`s grave. A military orchestra played Azerbaijan`s national anthem.
The President also laid flowers at the tombs of renowned ophthalmologist Zarifa Aliyeva, statesman Aziz Aliyev and professor Tamerlan Aliyev.

Since the early hours of Wednesday residents of Baku and other regions of the country as well as foreign guests have been visiting the Alley of Honors to lay flowers and wreaths at the tomb of the great son of Azerbaijan.

Among those in attendance at the commemorative ceremony were Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh, chairman of the Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov and Chief of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, as well as other officials, including MPs, ministers, heads of state committees and companies, and representatives of foreign countries.