Every year Azerbaijani people on December 12 commemorate the anniversary of the passing of Azerbaijani Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. Today, 21 years have passed since the death of the architect and founder of modern and independent Azerbaijani state, world-renowned politician and national leader of the Azerbaijani people. Heydar Aliyev is a personality who created history. Today the Azerbaijani people commemorate the Great Leader and numerous events are organized in all regions of Azerbaijan, as well as in the capital Baku. Heydar Aliyev was the very leader who created the modern history of Azerbaijan, becoming a true legend of his time. The history remembers him as a unique leader, powerful head of state, selfless man and a legendary figure able to take on his shoulders a difficult historical task of state building. Heydar Aliyev’s philosophy of Azerbaijanism, after gaining independence, determined the place of Azerbaijan in the modern world, provided a strong basis for the solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis as an ideological ground to the national statehood. Today, on the 21st anniversary of passing of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, residents of Baku and other regions and cities of the country, as well as foreign guests visit the Alley of Honors to lay flowers and wreaths at his grave. Under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan gained victory in the 44-day Patriotic War and its ancient lands, as well as Shusha – the pearl of Karabakh were liberated from the occupation. President Ilham Aliyev fulfilled the dream of Heydar Aliyev and all the world Azerbaijanis by liberating the lands of Azerbaijan from occupation and now the national flag of Azerbaijan is waving in the liberated lands. The people of Azerbaijan is proud of their great son, who devoted all his life to faithfully serving the people and motherland in the most difficult period of history. The bright memory of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, wise leader and genius personality, lives in the hearts of millions.