Event dedicated to Heydar Aliyev held at Romanian Senate

A conference marking the 103rd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev has been held at the Romanian Senate by Azerbaijan's embassy in Romania.

The conference was titled "The role of Heydar Aliyev, National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, in relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Romania," Report informs, citing the embassy.

The event was attended by members of Romania"s Chamber of Deputies and Senate, leaders of factions of parties represented in parliament, representatives of the Romanian government, a Romanian member of the European Parliament, heads and representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps accredited in Romania, representatives of SOCAR Petroleum SA, the Bucharest office of the Yunus Emre Institute, the Turkish Businessmen"s Association, public and political figures, members of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in Romania, members of the community of Iranian Azerbaijanis, and Azerbaijanis living and studying in Romania.

The state anthems of Azerbaijan and Romania were first played, and the memory of the National Leader was then honored with a minute of silence.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Romania Gudsi Osmanov opened the event and spoke about the life and activities of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as the results of his domestic and foreign policy based on wisdom and statecraft experience. The ambassador highlighted Heydar Aliyev"s exceptional services in the history of the Azerbaijani people and in resolving issues of vital importance, noting that his political course is being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev in foreign policy, as in all other areas.

Romanian Senate President Mircea Abrudean praised the life and activities of Heydar Aliyev, a world-renowned political figure who devoted his meaningful life to his people and to the strengthening and development of Azerbaijan, as well as his special role in expanding relations between Azerbaijan and Romania.

Marian Neacșu, head of the Romania-Azerbaijan friendship group in the Romanian parliament and former deputy prime minister, said Heydar Aliyev was the architect of the modern Azerbaijani state and one of the key figures in strengthening friendship between Romania and Azerbaijan.

Cristian Terheș, a Romanian member of the European Parliament and chairman of the Romanian National Conservative Party, touched on the importance of the Middle Corridor amid growing tensions in the region, including in Ukraine and Iran. He said the project was based on the far-sighted strategy once put forward by the National Leader.

Romanian Senator Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Țâgârlaș recalled his visit to Azerbaijan, particularly the Karabakh region, in August last year. He praised the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work he witnessed in Karabakh, the revitalization of destroyed areas and the rapid development of modern infrastructure, saying this process is important for the future of the region.

Nicolae Vlahu, deputy chair of the AUR parliamentary group, Mufti of Romania"s Muslims Murat Yusuf, Director General of Romania"s National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics Adrian-Victor Vevera and others also spoke at the event.

A video dedicated to the rich and meaningful life of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people was then shown. Participants also viewed a photo exhibition dedicated to Heydar Aliyev in the foyer of the Romanian Senate. Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, who was on an official visit to Romania, visited the exhibition and spoke warmly about Heydar Aliyev, noting his exceptional role in preserving Azerbaijani statehood.