Heydar Aliyev's return to the government in 1993 upon the will and request of the people laid the foundation for the dramatic changes in the political and economic life of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev's return to the Azerbaijani leadership identified the implementation of economic reforms, transition to market economy, foundation of economic development, integration of Azerbaijan into the global economy, privatization programme and implementation of agrarian reforms as the key priorities.

Genius leader Heydar Aliyev, who managed to prevent big disasters in Azerbaijan, initiated the conduction of measures for the economic growth of the country. First Vice President of SOCAR, MP Ilham Aliyev was from the very first days involved in the process of negotiations and became the most active participant in the development and successful accomplishment of the new oil strategy. He adhered to the following brief and strong idea in his activity: "Our objective is not only to produce oil, to transport it and get incomes. We must use the oil revenues, also political, economic and other incomes to ensure the interests and welfare of the people.” Realization of this contract is bright reflection of implementation of oil strategy prepared by Heydar Aliyev, which is the basis to the economic development concept of independent Azerbaijan. To Heydar Aliyev, the major idea of his oil strategy was more effective use of rich natural resources of Azerbaijan for prosperity of the people. The first international oil contract reflecting economic sovereignty of Azerbaijan laid the foundation of dynamic economic development of the country and its practical results are visible today. Participation of Azerbaijan in big international projects, restoration of great Silk Road, passage of transport corridors from Azerbaijani territory is the outcome of implementation of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy.

All these achievements were not gained easily. Building independent partnership relations with foreign states was of great importance for Azerbaijan, which had weak independence traditions at the time and lands of which were under occupation. Every country to be involved in the contract, particularly influential Western states had to act as an additional guarantor for Azerbaijan’s sovereign rights and state independence. Russia and Iran had specific position concerning hydrocarbon resources of Azerbaijan’s Caspian sector and sector division of the Sea. Involving foreign states in the Caspian oil-gas projects, Azerbaijan was trying to have their support, use their power to defeat pressures from Iran and Russia. Azerbaijan was searching for international partners in the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this sense, Caspian oil could be very important factor to conform interests of Azerbaijan and Western states, establish partnership relationships. Thus, due to active diplomacy of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan could achieve a fundamental change in the attitude of democratic states and leading public organizations of the world towards the armed conflict, which it is involved in by use of force.

Laman Khalilova,
"Azerbaijan Realities".