December 24 is the birthday of the outstanding statesman, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev was born on December 24, 1961, in the city of Baku in the family of a prominent statesman and public figure Heydar Aliyev. He attended a secondary school number 6 in Baku from 1967 to 1977. In 1977-1982, he studied at the Moscow State University of International Relations (MSUIR). In 1982, he embarked on postgraduate studies at MSUIR. In 1985, he defended a thesis to receive a PhD degree in history.

On April 30, 1994, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev was appointed as a vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). He has been actively involved in the implementation of National leader Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy. On November 12, 1995, at the elections to the Milli Majlis of the first convocation, he was elected to the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a deputy from Garadagh constituency No. 14. On December 24, 1996, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, he was appointed as a first vice-president for foreign economic relations of the State Oil Company (SOCAR). On July 31, 1997, he was elected as a president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, and on December 21, 1999, as a deputy chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party. On November 5, 2000, at the elections to the Milli Majlis of the second convocation, he was elected as a deputy from the New Azerbaijan Party. On November 21, 2001, at the II Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party, he was elected as a first deputy chairman of the Party, and at the III Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party (March 26, 2005), as a chairman of the Party.

From 2001 to 2003, Ilham Aliyev headed the Azerbaijani Parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In January 2003, he was elected as a deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and a member of the PACE Bureau. In 2004, he was awarded a medal and certificate of an honorary member of PACE.

On 4 August 2003, following the approval of the Milli Majlis, Ilham Aliyev was appointed as a Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This terminated his power as a member of parliament.

On October 15, 2003, Ilham Aliyev, the political successor of National leader Heydar Aliyev, having won the trust of the people, was elected as a President of Azerbaijan, and thus began a new stage in the development of our country.

The high management skills demonstrated by President Ilham Aliyev from the first days of his tenure, purposeful domestic and foreign policy based on national interests, soon yielded positive results. The people's trust in their leader has increased significantly. That is why Ilham Aliyev again won a landslide victory in the presidential elections held in 2008, 2013 and 2018.

The number of glorious pages written in golden letters by President Ilham Aliyev into the history of Azerbaijan is growing, strengthening its independence, day after day, year after year. The Patriotic War, which resulted in the liberation of our occupied lands and the restoration of our territorial integrity, became a clear indicator of the purposeful and effective policy of President Ilham Aliyev. The victory in Karabakh, won under the leadership of the President, the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, is forever inscribed in the history of the heroism of our people.

Our lands, which had been under occupation for almost thirty years, were liberated in 44 days. The long-awaited day of liberation of the city of Shusha from the Armenian occupation marked a new page in the history of Azerbaijan as Victory Day. And two days later, the occupying country Armenia was forced to sign an act of surrender. Thus, Azerbaijan itself complied with the UN Security Council resolutions, which remained on paper for 27 years.

Another important factor ensuring the intensive progress of modern Azerbaijan is the concept of President Ilham Aliyev regarding the socio-economic development of regions, based on national interests and conditioning national development. After being elected head of state, Ilham Aliyev identified the development of all regions as a strategic goal and ensured the achievement of significant successes in this direction. The activities outlined within the framework of strategic road maps, concepts and other government programs for the national economy and its key sectors were successfully implemented. Continuity of development has been ensured in the direction of further improving the social well-being of the population and the full establishment of democratic values in all spheres of our life.

A consistent policy, carried out under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, was carried out in the field of improving the political system, improving the atmosphere of political dialogue, creating a new political configuration, creating broad opportunities for the functioning of democratic institutions, ensuring pluralism, human rights and freedoms, freedom of speech and press, strengthening institutions of civil society, improving the activities of the judicial and legal system, further strengthening the democratic pillars of Azerbaijan.

As a result of the modern political strategy of the President of Azerbaijan, who is distinguished by charismatic leadership and high managerial skills, the country has modernized and entered a qualitatively new stage of its development, all spheres of life have been updated. Managing a modernized and innovative economy, which forms the foundation of the doctrine of national development, is based on ensuring transparency and an open society. This pragmatic, flexible policy, systematic and consistent strategic course is the main guarantor of the modern development of our country.

Thanks to the balanced policy of President Ilham Aliyev, a positive image of Azerbaijan has been formed on a global scale. It is no coincidence that interest in the country in the international arena is growing day by day; our friends and partners are becoming more and more numerous. The President of Azerbaijan enjoys unquestioned authority in world politics due to his determination, integrity, pragmatism, and foresight. New horizons have opened for Azerbaijan, which has become a model of dynamic economic development, socio-political stability, tolerance, and an ideal synthesis of national and universal values. The country, which acts as the initiator of global energy and logistics projects, the organizer and host of major humanitarian forums, every year strengthens its position as the main center of power in the region. With the participation of Azerbaijan and considering the country's national interests, large-scale international projects are being implemented in the region.

The basis of the activities of Ilham Aliyev, who rightfully became the President of every Azerbaijani, as head of state, is worthy service to the people and strengthening of statehood. We can say with full confidence that the unprecedented successes achieved by Azerbaijan in all spheres are based on the great ideas of National leader Heydar Aliyev and are a triumph of Ilham Aliyev’s policies.

Recommended literature:

1. Azərbaycan Prezidenti / red. V. Yolçiyev. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2004. - 264 s.
2. Qasımlı, Musa. Azərbaycan Respublikasının tarixi (1991-2021). 2 cilddə. II cild (2003-2021). Bakı: Bakı Dövlət Universiteti, 2021. - 520 s.
3. Məlikli, Günel. İlham Əliyevin siyasi strategiyasında milli prioritetlər: monoqrafiya / G. Məlikli; elmi red. İ. R. Məmmədzadə; AMEA Fəlsəfə İnstitutu.- Bakı: Nurlar NPM, 2018.- 200 s.
4. Şükürov, Məsud. İlham Əliyev fenomeni / M. A. Şükürov; red. S. Mustafayev.- Bakı: Elm və Təhsil, 2013.- 240 s.
5. İlham Əliyev: bizim siyasətimiz bizim işimizdir / tərt. M. Əmirov.- Bakı: Çaşıoğlu, 2007.- 160 s.
6. Hüseynov, Həsən. Heydər Əliyev Azərbaycanın tarixi, İlham Əliyev bu tarixin davamıdır / H. Z. Hüseynov; red. Ə. Əhədov.- Bakı: Araz, 2004.- 330 s.
7. Andriyanov, Viktor. İlham Əliyev / V. İ. Andriyanov, H. F. Mirələmov; rus dilindən tərc.: M. Oruc, İ. Qasımzadə; red. İ. Qasımzadə.- М.: Molodaya qvardiya, 2007.- 436 s.
8. Ozerov, Mixail. İlham Əliyev: Azərbaycanıma inanıram / M. Ozerov; rus dilindən tərc. R. Əskər.- Bakı: Azərnəşr, 2007.- 376 s.
9. Цыганов, Олег. Ильхам Алиев: открытый мир = Ilham Aliyev: open world / О. В. Цыганов.- М.: ИД Хроникер, 2008.- 308 с.
10. Зенькович, Николай. Ильхам Алиев: взгляд из Москвы / Н. А. Зенькович.- М.: Яуза: Эксмо, 2008.- 512 с.
11. Андриянов, Виктор. Ильхам Алиев / В. И. Андриянов, Г. Ф. Мираламов.- М.: Молодая гвардия, 2007.- 396 с.
12. Озеров, Михаил. Ильхам Алиев: я верю в мой Азербайджан / М. Озеров.- М.: Бослен, 2007.- 352 с.