Ilham Aliyev presented the “Heydar Aliyev” order to people’s artist Arif Malikov

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has presented the “Heydar Aliyev” order to people’s artist, Corresponding Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor Arif Malikov for his exceptional contribution to the development of Azerbaijani culture. 

President Ilham Aliyev said: Dear Mr. Malikov, I want to wish you a happy birthday anniversary and wish you good health and a long life. You have made a great contribution to the musical culture of Azerbaijan. You are a great composer, a great teacher and a wonderful citizen. Your works live in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people and I am sure they always will. You are the author of many symphonies and beautiful songs. Of course, the ballet "Legend of Love", which is staged in different countries around the world for more than 50 years, is the pinnacle of your career.

Are at the same time, you continue working as an educator and teacher. You play a major role in the training of young composers. You are the pride of the people of Azerbaijan, a great Azerbaijani composer and a classicist of Azerbaijani music. This is true.

I want to emphasize one more issue: you have always had a very clear and unequivocal position of a citizen. You have always stood up for truth and justice. You have expressed your position at all times. This should be an example for every intellectual and every citizen. Everyone, especially the people enjoying great authority in society, should have a position. In the most difficult days for our people and nation, the days when the tragedy of 20 January occurred, you communicated the right voice of the Azerbaijani people to the world. Azerbaijan was not an independent state at the time and our capacity to communicate information was very limited as there was no free press in the Soviet Union. Well-known people like you communicated the right voice of the Azerbaijani people to the world. I want to emphasize that one of the distinctive features of a real intellectual is his citizenship, affection to the people and loyalty to the state.

Your work was highly appreciated in the Soviet period and during the independence. In 1998, you were awarded the "Istiglal" Order, the highest order of the Azerbaijani state at the time. This order was presented to you by great leader Heydar Aliyev.

You also had a personal relationship with great leader Heydar Aliyev. I know that there was tremendous respect on both sides. I think that your friendship was very important for society.

Today you are celebrating your 80th anniversary, as always, in high spirits and in a very good physical shape. I am very pleased about that. I want to present the "Heydar Aliyev" Order, the highest order of our independent state, to you. By my order, you are being awarded the "Heydar Aliyev" Order today. Please allow me to present this top award to you.

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The head of state presented the “Heydar Aliyev” Order to people’s artist Arif Malikov.

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Arif Malikov said: You know, they say that grass grows on its roots. I had no doubt that in this conversation you will address the issues emanating from a global mindset so accurately. After so many words on your part, I can proudly say that neither in Azerbaijan nor in any other country of the world there is a composer who would have more than 60 premieres. I am proud of that because in the program notes of these premiers I always write that I am Azerbaijani. I am proud of the fact that I owe the "Legend of Love" and all other works to my homeland. This is natural. I am saying this after your words. If Allah can prolong my life a little longer, I have a few more ideas about some major works and am working on them.

You know, you have said so many fine words. I was really close to your father. You said that he presented me with the "Istiglal" Order. I am proud of that. But his personal assessment and analysis of my work were even more important than that. I will try to justify all of that with my work. Thank you.