103rd Anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev Celebrated in Berlin
On May 7, 2026, a large-scale concert program was held in Berlin to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the birth of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people and founder of the modern Azerbaijani state, Heydar Aliyev.
In his remarks, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany Nasimi Aghayev highlighted the outstanding contributions of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to safeguarding and strengthening Azerbaijan’s independence, as well as to establishing the foundations of modern statehood. He emphasized that thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s visionary leadership, stability was restored in Azerbaijan during the difficult political and economic conditions of the early 1990s, state institutions were strengthened, and the groundwork for the country’s future development was laid.
The ambassador further noted that, as a result of the National Leader’s successful foreign policy, Azerbaijan became a reliable partner of the international community, while the country’s energy strategy significantly increased its strategic importance. It was underscored that Heydar Aliyev’s official visit to Germany in 1996 marked a major milestone in Azerbaijani-German relations. Today, bilateral relations continue to develop successfully on the basis of mutual respect and trust. It was also emphasized that the full restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev fulfilled the National Leader’s greatest aspiration.
Executive Director of the Fund for Support to Azerbaijani Diaspora Akram Abdullayev stressed Heydar Aliyev’s exceptional role in strengthening Azerbaijani statehood, protecting national interests, and enhancing the country’s international standing. He noted that the development of relations with Germany occupied a special place in the National Leader’s strategic vision and that Azerbaijani-German cooperation continues successfully today in the fields of economy, education, innovation, culture, and humanitarian exchange.
It was also noted that joint projects, festivals, and concert programs make an important contribution to promoting mutual understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of both countries. In this regard, the concert program was described as a vivid demonstration of the unifying power of music and a symbol of friendship between Azerbaijan and Germany.
Following the official speeches, the event continued with an artistic program. During the performance by the “Simurq” Mugham Ensemble, the rich traditions of Azerbaijani mugham music were harmoniously blended with modern musical elements. The emotional performances by soloists Miralam Miralamov and Honored Artist Shola Safaraliyeva, together with the musicians’ exceptional professionalism on traditional instruments, were warmly received by the audience.
Performances by Elnur Mikayilov on the kamancha, Anar Valizada on the balaban, Zaki Valiyev on the tar, Honored Artist Kamran Karimov on the naghara, Idris Hüseynov on the oud, and Vasif Hüseyn on the piano created a unique atmosphere by combining the classical spirit of Azerbaijani national music with contemporary jazz rhythms. People’s Artist Faig Sujaddinov received particularly enthusiastic applause for his “Elegy” dedicated to National Leader Heydar Aliyev, along with several other compositions performed personally by the artist. The captivating balaban performance by People’s Artist Alikhan Samadov added a distinctive touch to the evening and left a lasting impression on the audience.
Following the concert, guests were served traditional Azerbaijani cuisine.
Short video of the event:
