An event on the topic "Heydar Aliyev and Multiculturalism" was held at the Faculty of Law of Baku State University (BSU) within the framework of the "Year of Heydar Aliyev".
Zaur Aliyev, dean of the Faculty of Law, who opened the event with an introductory speech, said that, May 10, 2023 is celebrated as the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, the founder of the independent Azerbaijani state, and an outstanding political and statesman. In this regard, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring 2023 the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in our country on September 29. The dean noted that egular events are organized at the Faculty of Law within the framework of the "Heydar Aliyev Year". 
A lecture on the topic of Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center was heard at the event.
Ravan Hasanov first gaved extensive information about the activities of the center and the projects it has implemented. The executive director emphasized in his lecture that Azerbaijan is an example to the world with its multicultural and tolerant way of life. The policy of tolerance implemented by the Azerbaijani state creates the basis for further strengthening friendship and brotherhood among ethnic and religious communities living in our country. All this is the result of the successful continuation of the policy founded by the national leader Heydar Aliyev.
He noted that Heydar Aliyev was a phenomenal personality who was able to unite the people under the flag of Azerbaijan by gathering them around a single ideology. Thanks to the struggle, will and determination of Heydar Aliyev, who returned to power in 1993 at the request of the people, ethnic and cultural conflicts within our republic were ended at that time, and Azerbaijan began to walk on the way of political stability, economic and cultural progress. Heydar Aliyev saved Azerbaijan from the war of separatism and became the architect of a powerful Azerbaijan, uniting representatives of the peoples who historically chose these lands as their homeland and lived here for centuries around this supreme ideology. This gives reason to confidently say that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev is the political founder of the multicultural model of Azerbaijan. He gave the highest legal and political evaluation to the multicultural values that the Azerbaijani people have developed over the centuries, and played an exceptional role in the formation of a multicultural society.
The basis of the ideology of modern Azerbaijaniism, authored by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, is the idea of the unity of the peoples living in Azerbaijan based on historical, moral, and cultural traditions. The idea of Azerbaijaniness of the great leader Heydar Aliyev played a significant role in strengthening the independence of Azerbaijan, empowering our statehood, and in the process of state building. Heydar Aliyev regularly met with ethnic groups and representatives of other nations living in the country in 1993-1995 during a difficult historical period for our republic. It’s a result of this equal care and attention that all the peoples living in our country together contribute to the development of a unified Azerbaijani society and the further strengthening of our independent state.
Today, our country, which has chosen the way of fast development, is also a unique multicultural space where peoples carrying different cultures and values, and people following different religions, live together in peaceful conditions. 
Azerbaijan, founded by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, is demonstrating its position out and developing in the international arena with its independent policy under the leadership of his political successor, President Ilham Aliyev. The successes achieved by Azerbaijan today are based on the determination, perseverance of President Ilham Aliyev and the worthy perpetuation of the Great Leader's political and spiritual heritage. The political activities implemented in our country under the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the field of protecting and developing the multicultural values of the Azerbaijani people are also being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. Today, President Ilham Aliyev is implementing a successful state policy aimed at preserving cultural, linguistic, ethnic and confessional diversity in the multinational, multi-confessional Republic of Azerbaijan. Multiculturalism has become one of the most significant directions of state policy as a result of President Ilham Aliyev's initiatives. 
Ravan Hasanaov stated that, representatives of different nations and religions have lived in our country as friend and brother since thousands of years, they protected Azerbaijan as their common homeland. Hundreds and thousands of representatives of various peoples living in our country - soldiers and officers - served in the ranks of the National Army of Azerbaijan and defended the Motherland in the 44-day Patriotic War that ended in victory. Each of them has proven with their incomparable bravery that they are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of restoring the territorial integrity of our country. Among the hundreds of martyrs who gave their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, there are also our brave fighters, such as the children of different nations - the Agarunovs, Yakovlevs, Polovinkos, Senyushkins and others. The Azerbaijani people will keep their precious memory alive forever and will never forget them.