On February 1, a group of young people who took an active part in the public life of Sumgayit State University were awarded an honorary diploma by the rector, Professor Elkhan Huseynov, on the occasion of Youth Day.

First, the rector and the awarded students laid flowers in front of the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the lobby of the university and expressed great respect and esteem to the memory of the genius.

Then, the students and graduates visited the memorial monument erected in the courtyard of the university and laid flowers in front of the monument. They commemorated the souls of our martyrs who died for the freedom and territorial integrity of our homeland with a minute of silence.

The award ceremony continued in the University"s Small Assembly Hall.

Rector professor Elkhan Huseynov congratulated the youth on this significant day, noting that the youth policy implemented in the country today is one of the factors stimulating the development of the country"s intellectual potential. Azerbaijani youth is distinguished by active participation in all spheres of public life and plays an important role in the implementation of political, economic, humanitarian and social measures. Rector noted that the celebration of "Youth Day" in our country is directly related with the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who always pays attention and care to young people, attaches special importance to solve their problems and evaluates this policy as one of the most important activities of the independent Azerbaijani state. He noted that President Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, has always paid attention and care to young people and created all conditions for their development. Indeed, the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Youth Policy" is a clear example of this concern. This law defines the goals, principles, directions, organizational and legal bases of youth policy in the Republic of Azerbaijan and regulates the relations arising in this field. Ensuring youth employment is also in the focus of attention in our country. The projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, to reveal the talents and abilities of young people are a reliable guarantee for the future of the rising generation. Projects implemented abroad and in our country on the initiative of Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva play an important role in promoting the success of Azerbaijan, increasing the activity of our youth and coordinating their activities. The Azerbaijani youth always feels this attention and care tries to justify the trust shown. In response to the high attitude, the young people, who are the guarantors of Azerbaijan"s bright future, mobilize all their forces for a united and independent Azerbaijan, work hard for the development of the country, support the successful domestic and foreign policy of President Ilham Aliyev.

Rector Elkhan Huseynov also noted that over the past two years, Azerbaijani youth have been celebrating their holidays more openly than ever, in a spirit of victory. This is not accidental. During the 44-day war, under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the brave Azerbaijani Army liberated our lands the Armenian fascists. The young people of Azerbaijan, who served in the army and voluntarily went to the front to achieve a historic victory, showed great heroism and wrote their names the victory chronicle. We are proud that among these young people there are also graduates of Sumgayit State University. The graduates and numerous staff of Sumgayit State University, who took part in the war, have always shown their loyalty to our President, our glorious army, in moral and material support. Dozens of graduates, students and employees of Sumgayit State University, their family members fought heroically. Several of our students were heroically killed in battles. Their memory will always live in the hearts of our team, their names will be proudly remembered.

The students thanked rector professor Elkhan Huseynov for the attention and care shown to the youth at the university, noting that the youth will continue to be faithful to the legacy of Heydar Aliyev, work hard for the bright future of our state and the development of our country.