In March 1997, President Heydar Aliyev made his first state visit to Ukraine. At that time I was the deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration. As part of the visit, Heydar Aliyev also visited the Kyiv City Hall. However, my personal acquaintance with Heydar Aliyev took place in the colonnaded hall of the Municipality office.

A few years later, in September 2001, I was lucky enough to come to Baku as part of a Ukrainian delegation. We came to the capital of Azerbaijan to participate in the First Forum of women of the GUAM member countries.

As is known, the initiative to create a women’s organization within the framework of GUAM belongs to Heydar Aliyev. In my opinion, this is another clear manifestation of Heydar Aliyev’s special attention to women and family issues, enhancing the role of women in society, giving them an equal status with men.

During our visit to Baku, the participants of the Forum had an unforgettable meeting with Heydar Aliyev. I thought that the meeting would be short and formal. However, the conversation on important, current matters took exactly two hours. Heydar Aliyev talked with each participant of the meeting and listened to them attentively. The ease of communication, kindness and gentle sense of humor of Heydar Aliyev inspired us, and we shared with him our thoughts about our plans and projects.

After meeting Heydar Aliyev, I understood why he has such a great influence among the nation and why he is loved so much. Because he is a genius who embodies the best features of the Azerbaijani people, such as kindness, generosity, courage, respect for women, a heightened sense of justice, and hatred of betrayal and fraud.

I felt special respect for the careful attitude he had towards his wife and lifelong friend Zarifa Aliyeva. Heydar Aliyev remained faithful to him throughout his life.

Such a person will never, under any circumstances, betray either his cause, or his people, or his country!