In his keynote address at the first session of the VII convocation of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the importance of ideological security. He emphasized that while ideological provocations against the country continue, they “cannot take root here,” as they are countered by the “strong will of our people and our national spirit.” However, Aliyev warned that this should not make us complacent, stressing that “we must always expose the dirty games being played against us,” which is being done both officially and through the public and media.
By doing so, President Aliyev underscored ideological security as a fundamental pillar in strengthening national independence. This emphasis is particularly relevant in light of global trends, where traditional human values are deliberately distorted, and external forces seek to exert political, economic, and cultural-ideological pressure on certain regions.
In this context, Aliyev placed a special focus on the education of youth, which aligns with his earlier speeches during his inauguration in February and his recent meeting with professors and students at Karabakh University. The president consistently emphasizes that youth, nurtured with traditional values and worldviews, is a critical force for propelling society forward.
The continuity of this message is evident in President Aliyev’s speeches at his inauguration, in Khankendi (on September 20), and during the recent session of the Milli Majlis. During his inauguration, Aliyev prioritized the need for enhanced security measures, stating that “through strengthened security and reinforced borders, we must protect ourselves from both physical and ideological risks,” especially as ideological threats “know no borders in today’s environment.” He further emphasized the need to raise the younger generation with a sense of patriotism and national traditions, ensuring that they are resistant to external influences and “that no one, trying to poison their minds, succeeds.”
In his speech in Khankendi on September 20, which was highly symbolic, Aliyev recalled how during the 44-day war, the Azerbaijani Army advanced daily, liberating occupied territories. This, he said, demonstrated that for a youth educated in the spirit of patriotism, “the liberation of native lands became the most honorable mission.” He concluded that with “strong will, professionalism, patriotism, and a younger generation raised with national spirit, no force can stand against such a people.” President Aliyev also stressed the importance of protecting family values and the role of educators in instilling patriotism in students.
These ideas were further elaborated in his address to the deputies of the Milli Majlis, where he described educating the younger generation in the national spirit as “the main guarantee for Azerbaijan’s future development.” He emphasized that Azerbaijani youth should be both well-educated and deeply connected to their homeland, without falling under external influence. Given Azerbaijan’s resounding victory in the Second Karabakh War in 2020 and the successful anti-terrorist operation of 2023, “the Azerbaijani people have every right to be proud of their country and themselves.”
Aliyev has effectively laid out the ideological foundation for the country’s future, continuing the legacy of Azerbaijan’s national leader, Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev, in his 1993 address to youth, highlighted the vital role of young people as “the present and future of every nation and state,” emphasizing that they were responsible for building the foundation of Azerbaijan’s independent statehood. He focused on the idea that in order to survive as an independent state and take a dignified place in the international community, the Azerbaijani people must make the best use of their potential today and in the future. For this reason, the “confident march into the future” depends largely on the youth of Azerbaijan, upon whom great hopes and responsibilities are placed.
Heydar Aliyev also underscored the importance of “restoring the occupied territories, ensuring the territorial integrity of the country, and bringing refugees back to their homes.” He believed that by uniting the strength of the people and awakening a sense of dignity, Azerbaijan’s youth, inspired by historical examples of heroism, would rise to defend their homeland, their present, and their future.
Ilham Aliyev continues this legacy by reinforcing the importance of raising youth with a patriotic spirit and adhering to Azerbaijan’s traditional family, national, cultural, and spiritual values. The implementation of these objectives will enable Azerbaijan to advance confidently toward new achievements while effectively countering the ideological threats that the president has outlined.
Teymur Atayev
Translated from minval.az
