A conference to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey and the birth of Azerbaijan’s former president Haydar Aliyev was held on April 25 at the Mithat Çoruh Auditorium. The event was organized by Bilkent University in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction.
In attendance as guest speakers were Rector Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan, Vice Rector of Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Prof. Akif Gasimov, Azerbaijan deputy Vügar İskenderov, Azerbaijan’s Ankara Embassy Undersecretary Eldar Aliyev, Bilkent University faculty member Asst. Prof. Seçkin Köstem and Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Prof. İslam Mustafayev.
In his opening speech, Rector Aydoğan stated that he first visited Azerbaijan in 1992 and then again in 2022. He continued, “The change I saw was really incredible. Thus, I realized once again what political stability and a strong leadership can do.”
Rector Aydoğan stated that Haydar Aliyev, the national leader of Azerbaijan, holds a special place at Bilkent University. He went on to say that the university’s founder, İhsan Doğramacı, had a special interest in the people and language of Azerbaijan as well as a close relationship with Haydar Aliyev.
Prof. Akif Gasimov said that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Haydar Aliyev were geniuses who changed history and that Aliyev made a great leap in the development of Azerbaijan with his management skills, patriotism and visionary qualities.
The program continued with speeches by Deputy Vügar İskenderov and Undersecretary Eldar Aliyev.
Dr. Köstem of the Department of International Relations followed with a speech titled “Turkish Foreign Policy and Azerbaijan in the Centennial of the Republic.” Dr. Köstem focused on the political, diplomatic and economic dimensions of bilateral relations and drew attention to the rapid development in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.
Prof. Mustafayev then gave a speech on “Haydar Aliyev and the Development of Intellectual Potential in Azerbaijan,” which was followed by a concert.
