Great nations have great sons.

Great nations call on their great sons for duty in times of hardship and despair.

They comply with this call without expecting anything in return.

Like in times when France was unable to cope with the anarchy and the country was ruled from the streets, Charles De Gaulle – despite his retirement in the village of Colombey-les Deux Eglises- complied with France’s call and brought France back from darkness to the light once more.

Or like when Hitler was threatening Britain, Winston Churchill, who was residing in his house at Kent country, complied with Britain’s call and helped Britain emerge victorious from the war…

Like Field Marshall Douglas MacArthur’s compliance with the call to be commander-in-chief during the Korean War and to end the hostilities…

These personalities were aware that they were needed. Accordingly, they always complied with the call of their countries without any demands because they knew they were needed in times of hardship.

Heydar Aliyev is also aware that he was needed during Azerbaijan’s hard days and complied with his country’s call and came to Baku from Nakhchivan.

When he came to Baku there was a fight among brothers in Azerbaijan. There was blood. There was chaos. The borders were under threat. In short, the elements that make the state truly a state were absent.

A personality to bring order to the country was needed.

Haydar Aliyev first brought a state to his country. He ensured stability. Then he drew the road map of how Azerbaijan could become a World state.

Haydar Aliyev was a statesman that brought peace to the Caucasus, he brought the spirit of solidarity and unity to the Turkic World and he brought independence and territorial integrity to his country, Azerbaijan.

If he were alive, Heydar Aliyev would be 91 years old today.

Ilham Aliyev, who took over his legacy, realized all of the commitments that are required to make Azerbaijan a great state in the last 10 years.

Ilham Aliyev, who declared 2014 as the year of industrialization, increased the gross domestic product of his country, which was around $7.3 billion when he assumed Office, to $76 billion and ensured a growth rate of 3.5 percent last year.

The foreign trade volume, which was around $6.6 billion during Heydar Aliyev’s era, reached $35 billion today, while the balance of foreign trade, which was previously at a $400 million deficit, has posted a $13.2 billion surplus this year.

These are the indications of the positive graphic of how far Heydar Aliyev’s legacy has moved forward.

With the realization of the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, Heydar Aliyev connected Turkey and Azerbaijan with thick ropes, and with railroads he united the Caucasus with Turkey.

Heydar Aliyev said: “one nation, two states”, while Ilham Aliyev opened the way for a $35 billion investment in Turkey with SOCAR.

Consequently, today Ilham Aliyev is continuing the great walk in the way of civilization, peace and humanity that was initiated by Heydar Aliyev.

I believe that on his 91st birthday, Heydar Aliyev is proud to watch this beautiful state his great work, the Republic of Azerbaijan, has reached from his eternal resting place.