An online scientific-practical conference on "Heydar Aliyev is the founder of Azerbaijani statehood" dedicated to the 97th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev started at Sumgayit State University on May 9.

Opening the conference, Rector of Sumgayit State University Professor Elkhan Huseynov notified that today the birthday of our national leader Heydar Aliyev is celebrated with great solemnity all over the country. He said: “The important historical services rendered by the Great Leader to the Azerbaijani people, state and homeland, his universal activity are widely discussed at the events, and his memory is cherished. Speaking about the great services of national leader Heydar Aliyev in strengthening the independence and development of Azerbaijan, the rector noted that in the early 1990s, on the eve of the collapse of the USSR, civil strife spread in Azerbaijan, our lands were occupied, the country was dragged into serious chaos and anarchy. At a time when the socio-political crisis was deepening, Heydar Aliyev risked his life and returned from Moscow, carrying out a real historical mission to establish a national civil union in his homeland and restore the country"s independence. In those years, the Republic of Azerbaijan was living its difficult days. From October 1991 to June 15, 1993, there was a danger of losing independence as a result of the incompetent actions of the leaders. In such a difficult and complicated period, Heydar Aliyev responded to the call of the people, returned to the leadership of the country at their request and support, and became the savior of the national statehood, carrying out a special mission of salvation. Thus, from 1993 to the end of his life, until 2003, the Great Leader led the independent Republic of Azerbaijan, of which he was the founder”. Rector spoke about Heydar Aliyev"s activity in the formation, strengthening and development of our national statehood, noting that the legacy of the genius will be studied for many years and will remain an example for generations. He noted that today we believe that our independent Azerbaijan, which is developing in a political way determined by the great leader, will continue to achieve greater success under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Today, the world is facing problems and crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has put even the most developed countries in a difficult and deplorable situation. This tragedy, which shook mankind, did not go unnoticed in Azerbaijan. Thanks to the correct decisions and preventive measures taken by President Ilham Aliyev in such a difficult and emergency situation, important steps have been taken in our country to reduce the impact and limit the scale of the pandemic. All the opportunities of our state were aimed at preventing the epidemic and eliminating its consequences. The suspension of education in schools, the timely closure of borders, the commissioning of a new modern hospital, the introduction of the necessary medical equipment, the provision of social benefits and assistance to low-income families, and most importantly, moral support, "We are strong together!" - all this work proved that President Ilham Aliyev cared about the health of the people above all else. He proved once again that he is able to continue the work started by the national leader. The rector also noted that along with President Ilham Aliyev, the progress of Azerbaijani education has a special place in the activities of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. The fact that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, including Mehriban Aliyeva, provided food assistance to hundreds of thousands of low-income families during the quarantine period once again proved that the foundation named after the great leader is with every Azerbaijani citizen.

Then the dean of the Faculty of History and Geography, Honored Teacher, Professor Adil Bakhshaliyev spoke on "The life and statehood activity of Heydar Aliyev." He noted that as a result of the far-sighted and wise policy of the great leader, independent Azerbaijan has moved forward with great confidence and determination to take its rightful place among the developed nations of the world, to join the ranks of developed countries.

Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Associate Professor Aytekin Mammadova spoke on "Successful state policy of Heydar Aliyev in the field of science, education and culture." She noted that the field of education is the most important field for the present of our people, the future of our nation and state. The great leader always appreciated the role of education in the development of society and its importance in the formation of personality. The decisions taken by the great leader, the conceptual ideas and historical recommendations put forward by his far-sightedness o the definition of the main directions of educational reforms in our country. The great leader was especially sensitive to science and education, and always took care of this area.

Nemat Ibayev, chairman of the Student Trade Union Committee, spoke on "The activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the presentation of the services of the great leader." 16 years have passed since the launch of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which has made significant achievements with important projects in various fields and gained great sympathy in Azerbaijan, the region and the world. The main goal of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and its President Mehriban Aliyeva is to inculcate the rich spiritual heritage of the national leader, his ideas of Azerbaijanism in the younger generation, to take an active part in the further prosperity of independent Azerbaijan, to help people and do good deeds.

Afterwards,Tarana Ahmadova, associate professor of Business Administration and Management delivered speech on"Heydar Aliyev and the Azerbaijani economy", Aynur Aliyeva, 3rd year student of the Faculty of Philology "Heydar Aliyev and the ideology of Azerbaijanism", Sona Maharramova, head of the Department of History and its teaching methods "Inheritance in the tradition of Azerbaijan statehood - Ilham Aliyev". They noted that the foundation of the great work carried out in the establishment and development of the modern Azerbaijani state, protection and promotion of the Azerbaijani ideology, national and spiritual values, economic progress of our country and other areas was laid by the great statesman Heydar Aliyev. Thanks to these services, Heydar Aliyev erected a magnificent monument to himself in the hearts of every Azerbaijani.

Then, a poem dedicated to the Great Leader was performed by Elnara Mehdizadeh, a student of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.