An event titled “National Leader Heydar Aliyev: A Way leading to Victory” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern Azerbaijan, and November 8th - Victory Day, was held in New York.

International House of Columbia University hosted an event, held with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora and organized by the Azerbaijani-American Youth Federation. Employees of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN, as well as Azerbaijani and foreign students, graduates, young professionals and members of Azerbaijani community attended the event.

At the event, the national anthems of Azerbaijan and the United States were sung, the dear memory of great leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of our country, were commemorated with a minute's silence.

Welcoming the participants of the event, chairman of the Azerbaijan-American Youth Federation Gunay Mammadova talked about the contributions of the national leader Heydar Aliyev to the state-building, history, culture and art of modern Azerbaijan. She also touched upon the bright Victory achieved by our country 3 years ago.

Then, a video dedicated to the history, rich cultural heritage and nature of modern Azerbaijan was demonstrated.

Elshad Aliyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, spoke about the great personality- Heydar Aliyev's unparalleled services and invaluable contributions in achieving, protecting and strengthening the state independence of our country, and in the formation of the oil strategy.

He has noted that in response to great leader’s thoughts "I am proud to be an Azerbaijani", the new generation of Azerbaijanis proudly answer "We are proud to have national leader like Heydar Aliyev".

It was told that President Ilham Aliyev successfully continues Heydar Aliyev’s political course and great leader’s main wish - the complete liberation of Karabakh from the Armenian occupation - has came true.

Vugar Gurbanov, counselor of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United States, delivered speech at the event. He told that Heydar Aliyev was a wise statesman with a foresight, determination, iron will and rich statehood experience, who left a bright and indelible mark on the history of Azerbaijan. He believed that justice would serve one day and that day was no longer a future.

The event continued with the screening of the documentary film "Great Promoter of Art" dedicated to the great leader Heydar Aliyev.

In the artistic part of the event, Azerbaijani artists living in New York - head of the National Music & Global Culture Society, laureate of the international competitions, honored artist of Azerbaijan Nargiz Aliyarova (piano) and diaspora member Agil Huseynov (tar) performed a concert program consisting of the classical Azerbaijani music.

Within the framework of the event, Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States of America, organized a photo exhibition depicting Heydar Aliyev’s official visits to this country.