NEW YORK - Former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev passed away at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, where he was having treatment, on Friday.
Aliyev's demise was confirmed by officials of Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington.
Tahir Tahizade, the First Secretary in the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, told A.A correspondent that Haydar Aliyev died on Friday morning.
Tahizade expressed sorrow over demise of Aliyev, adding that a condolence book would be opened at the embassy for Aliyev and a diplomatic note would be issued.
CLEVELAND CLINIC CONFIRMS DEMISE OF ALIYEV
The Cleveland Clinic officially announced on Friday that former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev died at 10.00 a.m. local time.
The statement of Cleveland Clinic said that Aliyev was having treatment at the clinic due to heart insufficiency and renal problems.
Aliyev had been taken under treatment at the Cleveland Clinic on August 6, 2003.
PRESIDENT SEZER ISSUES MESSAGE UPON DEMISE OF HAYDAR ALIYEV
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that demise of former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, who exerted efforts for prosperity and well-being of Azerbaijan during his whole life, was a big loss for not only Azerbaijan but also international community.
A statement of Presidential Press Center said that Sezer issued a message upon demise of Haydar Aliyev.
In his message, Sezer said, ''I felt deep sorrow to learn that distinguished statesman, distinguished member of Azerbaijani nation and my friend Haydar Aliyev died. Demise of Haydar Aliyev, who exerted efforts for prosperity and well-being of friendly Azerbaijan during his whole life, is a big loss for not only his country but also international community. Aliyev has taken his place in history as a big leader who pioneered important steps taken for Azerbaijan's stability and development. I would like to offer my condolences to friendly Azerbaijani nation on behalf of Turkish nation and state that we are sharing deep sorrow of Azerbaijan.''
Sezer added that he spoke to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by phone this evening and offered his condolences.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN OFFERS HIS CONDOLENCES TO AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV
BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered on Friday his condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over demise of former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, who was Ilham Aliyev's father.
Erdogan, who received the news that Haydar Aliyev died, spoke to Ilham Aliyev by phone and expressed his condolences.
CURRICULUM VITAE OF HAYDAR ALIYEV
Former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev was born in Nakhichevan on May 10, 1923.
According to information received from web-site ''www.prezident.az'', Aliyev could not complete his architecture education in Azerbaijani Institute of Industry in 1941 due to World War II.
Aliyev occupied a high position in the army and became the major general and then graduated from the Historical Department of Azerbaijan State University.
Haydar Aliyev, who became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan in 1964, became the chairman of this committee in 1967.
He was the first Azerbaijani to occupy this high position and to become a General within the system of the Committee of State Security.
In July of 1969, Haydar Aliyev was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party and leader of the Republic. He occupied this position for almost 14 years until December 1982.
In December of 1982, Haydar Aliyev was elected a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of former Soviet Union and went to Moscow.
Aliyev was promoted to the post of first Deputy Prime Minister of the former USSR during his post in Moscow that continued till November 1987.
Haydar Aliyev was a member of the Parliament of the Soviet Union for 20 years, and Deputy Chairman of the Parliament for 5 years.
As a result of disagreements and certain political opposition, in 1987 Haydar Aliyev handed in his resignation and left the Political Bureau and Council of Ministers of the USSR.
In January 1990, Aliyev harshly reacted to barbarous action of Soviet military troops in Baku and condemned the incident.
Aliyev, who returned to Nakhichevan after Azerbaijan declared its independence and was elected a deputy of Republic of Azerbaijan, also became the Chairman of Supreme Majlis of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.
Resigning from Communist Party in 1991, Aliyev acted as the Chairman of Supreme Majlis of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and simultaneously Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Republic of Azerbaijan.
When Azerbaijani-Armenian conflicts, which started as Armenia attacked on Azerbaijan with the support of Russian units, continued, administrators of Azerbaijan particularly President Ebulfez Elcibey invited Aliyev to Baku.
Aliyev was elected the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan on June 15, 1993. He was empowered as President by decree of the National Assembly as Elcibey went to Nakhichevan as of June 24, 1993.
Haydar Aliyev signed ''Bishkek Protocol'' with Armenia, who continued to invade Azerbaijani territories, in Kyrgyz capital in May 1994 and enabled end of warm clashes between two countries by a cease-fire.
Aliyev was elected president for a second time on October 11, 1998.
Haydar Aliyev, who became ill at the beginning of his second-term presidency and had treatment in Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Ankara, was granted 1999 Ataturk Peace Award ''for his steps to settle stability in the Caucasus and contributions to world peace.''
Aliyev, who met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in Washington, where he paid a visit to attend the celebrations of 50th anniversary of NATO and gave ''positive'' signals about solution of Armenian-Azerbaijani problem through peaceful means, had an open heart surgery.
Haydar Aliyev came to southern Antalya province for a rest for some time after the surgery.
Aliyev had a health problem twice during his speech in Respublika Palace on April 21, 2003 and came to Ankara on May 3.
Haydar Aliyev returned to Baku after ongoing check-ups and treatment in GATA which lasted about a week.
Aliyev came to GATA on July 8 for a check-up.
Rumors about Aliyev's health increased after these days. There were news in foreign press saying that Aliyev died.
Aliyev, who was having treatment in the United States, withdrew his candidacy for presidency a while before the elections held on November 15. He withdrew his candidacy in favor of his son Ilham Aliyev.
Haydar Aliyev, whose wife Zarife Aliyev died in 1985, has a son, daughter and six grandchildren.
(BRC) 12.12.2003