National Leader of the Azerbaijani People, Heydar Aliyev, Commemorated on the 21st Anniversary of His Passing

A commemoration ceremony was held in memory of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, on the 21st anniversary of his passing. The event took place at the newly renovated ceremony area of Petkim, a subsidiary of SOCAR Türkiye — Türkiye’s largest direct international investor and leading integrated industrial group — located in Aliağa During the ceremony, the opening of the new SOCAR Türkiye Refining and Petrochemical Business Unit ceremonial area was also held, where the busts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Heydar Aliyev are located. The national anthems of Türkiye and Azerbaijan were performed, followed by the laying of wreaths at the busts of Atatürk and Aliyev, accompanied by a moment of silence.

The ceremony was attended by SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov, Head of Refining and Petrochemical Business Unit and Petkim General Manager Kanan Mirzayev, Head of SOCAR Management Office Hafiz Zeynalov, along with the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ankara Dr. Rashad Mammadov, Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul Narmina Mustafayeva, İzmir Deputy Governor Kamil Köten, Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Cemil Tugay, District Governor of Aliağa Zekeriya Güney, Mayor of Aliağa Serkan Acar, and many senior officials from public institutions. The participants emphasized the legacy and visionary leadership of Heydar Aliyev, who greatly contributed to strengthening the brotherly ties between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and highlighted his enduring influence on the Turkic world.

Heydar Aliyev’s Vision Continues to Guide Us

Speaking at the ceremony, SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov stated:
“Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, holds a prominent place not only in the memory of Azerbaijan but also in the collective consciousness of the Turkic world as a visionary leader. His foresight and wise leadership laid the foundation for today’s robust brotherhood, cooperation, and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Thanks to our National Leader’s forward-thinking policies, relations between our countries continue to deepen across all fields. The busts of our leaders at the SOCAR Türkiye Refining and Petrochemical Business Unit ceremonial area will stand as a symbol of the ideals they championed. At SOCAR Türkiye, we draw inspiration from the ideals of the Great Leader and our shared values in all the investments and projects we undertake.”