“Azerbaijan’s National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who established the ideological foundations of Azerbaijani statehood and laid the unshakable basis for national revival, rewrote history as the architect of the modern Azerbaijani state, the creator of a new aesthetic and functional vision for Azerbaijan’s cities, and a protector of the national architectural school,” said Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency (MEDIA), at the opening of the 3rd Forum on “Public Processes in Media Space.”

Ahmad Ismayilov emphasized that during the years of independence, the development path shaped by National Leader Heydar Aliyev has demonstrated the strength of the Azerbaijani state and the refined aesthetic sense of its people to the world. “Azerbaijan’s hosting of WUF13 in Baku is one of the significant examples of the international recognition of the National Leader’s vision,” he noted.

The Executive Director also highlighted that the modern urban planning strategy initiated by Heydar Aliyev has been brought to an advanced stage under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, he stated, “The ‘Smart City’ and ‘Smart Village’ projects being implemented in the liberated territories are radically transforming Garabagh and East Zangezur.”

“Today, the revival of Garabagh is not merely the restoration of a region, but also clear evidence of Azerbaijan’s intellectual and economic strength, as well as its contribution to contemporary urban planning. We should also particularly highlight the role of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva in preserving the aesthetic character of our cities and promoting our cultural heritage globally. The magnificent cultural centers and public parks that define the modern image of our capital are the result of this noble approach and dedicated commitment to our national culture,” he added.