Kazakh Language Version of 'Zarifa and Heydar Aliyevs: Eternal Love' Presented in Astana

As part of the Days of Azerbaijani Culture in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, on September 25, the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the presentation of the book ‘Zarifa and Heydar Aliyevs: Eternal Love’ by the people's writer of Azerbaijan, Elmira Akhundova in the Kazakh language. In his speech, Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli said it was a great honor to organize the presentation of the book dedicated to the national leader Heydar Aliyev in Kazakhstan: "This event not only honors the national leader but also underlines the strong historical ties between our countries. As brotherly countries, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have for many years developed relations based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. Our common history, culture, and traditions make these ties particularly meaningful. The strong and friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are rooted in our mutual desire for development and progress. This relationship is essential for future cooperation between our two countries. National leader Heydar Aliyev is the key figure behind the establishment of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and their current high level of progress. His visits and meetings in the brotherly countries have laid a strong foundation for development in all fields, especially culture. We are pleased with the deep respect and reverence for the memory of the national leader in Kazakhstan. The opening of the street named after Heydar Aliyev in Astana in April last year with the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is clear evidence of this. The ideas of the national leader have always contributed significantly to the strengthening of relations between Turkic-speaking countries, especially in the cultural sphere. Strengthening relations with Turkic-speaking nations is a key aspect of Azerbaijan's foreign policy under President Ilham Aliyev. We are confident that Heydar Aliyev's great legacy of statesmanship will support the strengthening and expansion of cooperation between our countries in the future. The ideas of the national leader have always contributed significantly to the strengthening of relations between Turkic-speaking countries, especially in the cultural sphere.”

Speaking about the book ‘Zarifa and Heydar Aliyevs: Eternal Love,’ the Minister said that this publication is not only a literary work but also an impressive story that reflects the important points in the life of an outstanding political figure, the founder of the newly independent state of Azerbaijan and national leader Heydar Aliyev, and his lifelong companion, an outstanding ophthalmologist, scientist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

Among the numerous books written by Elmira Akhundova, her multi-volume work "Heydar Aliyev and His Era," which has been translated into several languages and has been awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Azerbaijan, occupies a special place.

People's writer Elmira Akhundova shared details about the book and mentioned: "While working on the six-volume research novel 'Heydar Aliyev. Personality and Time', I became deeply interested in the personality of my protagonist's lifelong companion. Many people I talked to shared interesting stories about Mrs. Zarifa, especially about her relationship with Heydar Aliyev. Gradually, a complete picture began to emerge from these various anecdotes. I understood that without writing about the one woman who brought Heydar Aliyev genuine family happiness, a talented son, and a daughter, the story of my hero's life and destiny would remain incomplete... The result of many years of research is now before you, and only the reader can judge its success. I hope that after reading this short book you will feel even more affection for my heroes.

Rollan Kuspan, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Archives, Documentation, and Book Trade of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, Aghalar Atamoghlanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan, Aktotı Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Gaziza Nurgalieva, Director of National Academic Library of Kazakhstan, Fuad Mammadov, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Culturologist, Farida Azizova, Doctor of Philological Sciences, and the Head of the Medieval Azerbaijani Literature Department at Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS, Ilgar Fahmi, Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, and others, emphasized the significance of the book.

In the end, Adil Karimli, the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, presented a copy of the manuscript of "Bangu-Bade" by Mohammad Fuzuli, and the people's writer Elmira Akhundova donated several copies of her books to the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The book deals with the family background, childhood, and youth of two brilliant figures of our country's history, Zarifa and Heydar Aliyev, and their eternal love, which helped them to overcome the challenges of life together. The book contains the following sections: "The formation of characters (1940s-early 1950s)", "The right to love", "The private life of a counter-intelligence officer", "From a resident to an academician", "Leader", "The daily life of the wife of the head of the republic", "Without a tie", "Heydar Aliyev (70s of the 20th century)", "Life in Moscow (behind the walls of the government garden No. 7), “He hid his sufferings till the end..." and "Love overcoming death.".

The editor of the book, which was published by the Fuyuzat printing house in Baku, is Tamila Nuriyeva.

The book was translated into Kazakh and published with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aktau, Kazakhstan.