Tokyo, 15 June, /AJMEDIA/
The early years (1991-1993) of Azerbaijan’s renewed independence was a very challenging time with combined crises– occupation of its territory by Armenian forces, consequential and post independence instability and general economic decline in the country.
Heydar Aliyev made a pragmatic comeback in 1993 to rescue his nation, not letting the competing forces in the country and the war in Garabagh tear the nation apart.
In 1994, during the first year of Heydar Aliyev’s presidency, he showed the understanding for the need in foreign investment if Azerbaijan was to escape the Soviet legacy of economic inefficiency. Thus, the first step was to sign the Contract of the Century. Later on, Heydar Aliyev participated in opening ceremony devoted to the commissioning of the “Dada Gorgud” drilling rig in the framework of the Contract of the Century in August 1996, highlighting the importance of this event, which was related to the name of this rig:
“This drilling-rig was given the name of Dada Gorgud… I must say that I was proposed of about ten names connected with traditions, history and various places of Azerbaijan. All of them were worthy for naming the rig. But I adopted a decision to call it Dada Gorgud. I think this name is very sacred and dear for each Azerbaijani, and therefore, it is the worthiest to name the rig after him.”
