On May 8, a conference entitled “Sustainable Development and Political Succession: In the Context of Heydar Aliyev’s Legacy”, dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, was held at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Ministry of Science and Education.

AZƏRTAC reports that the event was attended by the institute’s administration, scientists and specialists, as well as young researchers and guests.

Prior to the conference, the participants visited the “Rare Trees Collection” established on the institute’s grounds on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the National Leader.

The event then continued in the institute’s assembly hall.

As part of the event, a video dedicated to the life and political activities of the National Leader was screened.

Opening the conference, the Director of the Institute and Vice-President of ANAS, Academician Irada Huseynova, stated that the rich political legacy of Heydar Aliyev constitutes the ideological and strategic foundation of modern Azerbaijani statehood. She noted that during the National Leader’s tenure, the establishment of socio-political stability in the country, the preservation of national and moral values, and the special attention devoted to the development of science and education laid a solid foundation for Azerbaijan’s future progress. She particularly emphasized Heydar Aliyev’s care for providing young people with high-quality education, the importance he attached to women’s active participation in all spheres of society, as well as his approach to ecology and environmental protection as an important direction of state policy. According to her, this political course is being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev, yielding its most remarkable results through the full restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, the large-scale reconstruction process in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur, and the country’s transformation into a regional center of power.

In her speech, the academician also drew attention to the farsighted nature of Heydar Aliyev’s science and education strategy, noting that in the 1970s and 1980s, the strengthening of the national personnel potential was achieved through the placement of young people in prestigious higher educational institutions. She stated that the National Leader’s support played a significant role in the formation of scientific schools in the fields of biology and agricultural sciences, and she particularly highlighted the contributions of Academician Jalal Aliyev. Irada Huseynova also spoke about the scale of Heydar Aliyev’s environmental policy, emphasizing that the protection of nature, forests, water resources, and biodiversity constituted an integral part of his concept of statehood.

Within the framework of the conference, presentations covering various aspects of the statehood legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev were delivered. The speeches analyzed current issues such as political governance, environmental security, urban planning, gender policy, science and education, as well as youth policy from scientific and practical perspectives.

Corresponding Member of ANAS Novruz Guliyev delivered a presentation entitled “Independent Statehood and the Heydar Aliyev School: A Model of Strategic Governance and Political Succession,” emphasizing that the model of public administration established by National Leader Heydar Aliyev played an important role in preserving Azerbaijan’s independence and ensuring political stability. Corresponding Member of ANAS Panah Muradov, in his report entitled “National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the Ecological Vision: Nature Protection and the Concept of Sustainable Development,” spoke about the main directions of the National Leader’s environmental policy.

PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor Afig Mammadov, in his presentation “Urban Planning and Urban Development Strategies: Analysis of Heydar Aliyev’s Legacy in the Context of Modern Urbanism,” noted that the National Leader’s urban planning policy is in harmony with modern concepts of urban development.

PhD in Biology, Associate Professor Ulduza Gurbanova delivered a presentation entitled “Heydar Aliyev and Women’s Policy: Strategic Foundations of Gender Equality and Social Development,” emphasizing the National Leader’s outstanding role in ensuring the active participation of women in Azerbaijan’s socio-political and scientific life. PhD in Biology, Associate Professor Ruhiyya Guliyeva, in her report “Heydar Aliyev’s Education and Science Policy: Formation of National Scientific Potential,” noted that the attention and support given by National Leader Heydar Aliyev to science and education played a significant role in the development of Azerbaijani science. PhD in Biology Agil Ahmadli, in his presentation “Heydar Aliyev and Youth Policy: Youth as the Social Capital of National Development,” stated that the National Leader paid special attention and care to young people.

Later, Doctor of Biological Sciences Karim Gasimov addressed the audience, highlighting that the National Leader transformed Azerbaijan from a semi-agrarian country with a weak economy into a developed industrial state.