Baku: On February 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Artur Rasi-zade and presented him with the ‘Heydar Aliyev’ Order. President Aliyev congratulated Rasi-zade on his upcoming jubilee, acknowledging his significant contributions to Azerbaijan’s development over many years, both during the Soviet era and the years of independence.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev recognized Rasi-zade’s professionalism and knowledge, which were acknowledged by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, leading to his appointment to several key positions, including Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers during the Soviet era. In independent Azerbaijan, Rasi-zade served as Heydar Aliyev’s assistant and later as the Prime Minister. President Aliyev highlighted the period from 2003 to 2018 as a time of rapid economic growth for Azerbaijan, attributing the successful implementation of major infrastructure projects to Rasi-zade’s leadership.
President Aliyev emphasized that Rasi-zade was a loyal companion to Heydar Aliyev and praised his principled stance on the country’s economic and developmental issues. The presentation of the ‘Heydar Aliyev’ Order was described as a well-deserved recognition of Rasi-zade’s dedication and service to Azerbaijan.
In response, Artur Rasi-zade expressed his gratitude to President Aliyev for the recognition. He stated that receiving the order named after National Leader Heydar Aliyev was the greatest honor for him. Rasi-zade also expressed pride in having worked alongside both Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, noting the historic achievement of ending the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the new era of development in those territories.