On April 13, an international scientific conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was held at Sumgayit State University on the topic "Restoration of state independence in Azerbaijan and political, socio-economic and cultural development of the country" in an online format.

Besides Azerbaijani universities, the conference, attended by leading university scientists from Turkey, Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan, began with a minute"s silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs of our country.

Prof. Ramazan Mammadov, vice-rector of SSU, who opened the plenary meeting of the conference with his opening speech, greeted the guests and participants and talked about the importance of the conference. He spoke about the multifaceted activities of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, his unparalleled historical services in the direction of the development of Azerbaijan, as well as, the protection of our independence and the strengthening of our national statehood, and his great rescue mission. He said that with the return to power of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in June 1993, it was possible to protect independence and sovereignty in Azerbaijan and restore social and political stability in the country. Our people showed strong will by uniting closely around their genius leader and managed to survive all the trials. The vice-rector also emphasized that the people of Azerbaijan are happy that today the Great Leader"s political course is being resolutely implemented by his worthy follower, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. The  legacy of Heydar Aliyev, the immortal ideas of the genius leader are firmly engraved in people"s minds. At the end of his speech, the vice-rector, wished success to the work of the conference, highly appreciated its importance.

Then the dean of the faculty of History and geography of SSU, professor Adil Bakhshaliyev, made a wide report on "Heydar Aliyev is the savior of the Azerbaijan state". He noted that as a result of the successful policy of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan has become a developing state in the world, its reputation is increasing day by day, and achieving new economic successes. He said that one of the greatest services of Heydar Aliyev in the modern history of the country is the foundation of Azerbaijan"s renaissance. The preservation and development of Azerbaijan"s existence as an independent state, ensuring stability and solidarity in our country is directly related to the name of the Great Leader.

He also noted that Great Leader saw the only way to national development in higher education is enlightenment of the people, and that he implemented all the necessary measures for the development of science in the republic. He said  Heydar Aliyev  paid attention and care to these fields throughout his career, and worked to form a highly educated and intellectual class in the society. Talking about Azerbaijan"s great progress in the political, economic, social and military spheres, the dean pointed out that Armenia"s 30-year occupation policy was ended under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and that Azerbaijan strives for eternal peace in the region.

Then Nurettin Hatunoglu, professor of Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University of the Republic of Turkey, "Importance of Azerbaijan in terms of the Turkic World", Mendiganim Shaymerdenova, professor of T. K. Jurgenov Kazakhstan National Academy of Arts, academician of the International Informatization Academy, "Historical and cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan during the reign of Heydar Aliyev", SSU- professor Shirkhan Salimov, head of the department of History of Azerbaijan and Eastern Europe Peoples "Heydar Aliyev and the history of Azerbaijan"s oil strategy" spoke about their topics. The activities of the outstanding political figure Heydar Aliyev in the direction of state building, domestic and foreign policy were discussed, the speakers noted that the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev revived the country"s economy, turned Azerbaijan into a developing country.Today, the signs of Heydar Aliyev and the policy defined by him are evident in the development of seperate fields in Azerbaijan. The speakers also emphasized that the obtained results are the beginning of a new era in the development of our country and the region as a whole.

Honored teacher, professor Adil Bakhshaliyev, dean of the faculty of History and geography of SSU, informed about the further work of the conference. He said that 182 reports were included in the agenda of the conference. The conference will continue its work for two days in 3 sections.