Sayyad Aran
Sayyad Aran or Sayyad Salahly (; 15 January 1952 in Garadonlu, Imishli District, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani social figure, candidate of Philological sciences (2005), one of the founders of New Azerbaijan Party, writer-publicist, and envoy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Deputy for the I and II convocation of Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. First deputy chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (since 16 November 2012). Honored Journalist of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Biography. Sayyad Adil oglu Salahli was born in a teacher family in Garadonlu village of  Imishli on 15 January 1952. The family consisted of 10 children where he was the first. From 1958 to 1968, he studied at a secondary school in Imishli. From 1968 to 1972, he studied at the Philology faculty of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University named after Vladimir Lenin. In 2001, he received a second degree in higher education from Baku State University Law School. In 2005, he defended his dissertation on the topic of "Psychology in the Azerbaijani prose in 1960–1980 years (on the work of Movlud Suleymanli)" in Azerbaijani literature (specialty code: 10.01.01) at the Institute of Literature named  after Nizami of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and was honored as a candidate of Philological sciences. After graduating from high school, he was sent to the Azizbekov secondary village school of Imishli by appointment and began to work as a teacher of Language and Literature. From 1973 to 1974, he served as a captain at the military unit number 69626 of the Soviet Army located in Nyjchivand, Qivag. From 1974 until the end of December 1989, he initially worked as a teacher of Language and Literature in a secondary school in Imishli, then he continued his career as a  deputy head of the primary unit, secretary of the first party organization and deputy director for extracurricular upbringing works. In 1990, he was appointed chief of the Department of Public Education in Imishli, but he was dismissed from the post after no more than one year. On 2 January 1991 he relocated from Imishli to Baku where he initially worked in "Elm" newspaper where he became head of department. From 1992 to 1995, he became the first deputy editor of the "Səs" (Voice) newspaper. Since 2001, he worked as the Dean of the Journalism Faculty of Azerbaijan University. From 2011  to 2012, he worked as a leading adviser of the State Register of Territorial Units and Municipalities of the Service of the Head of Staff in the National Assembly of Azerbaijan (Milli Mejlis). Social-political activity. He is one of the founders of the New Azerbaijan Party and one of the initiators and founders of its constituent conference. He was the representative of the first, second, and third congress of NAP. Since 1992, he has been one of the first 50 members of NAP's political council elected at its constituent conference. From 1995 to 1999, he was the chief  of NAP's ideology department and its Inter-Party Relations department. In 2006, he was sent to Istanbul for diplomatic service, and according to the Law on Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, he left the NAP membership and political council. In 2012, he was re-accepted into NAP leadership. The role of Heydar Aliyev in his career. Sayyad Aran was one of the closest associates to Heydar Aliyev. Hundreds of articles described the life of Heydar Aliyev by him was published at periodical press and numerous books about him were published. Sayyad Aran was represented within the delegation  jointly with Heydar Aliyev in two historical visits; one to China (7–11 March 1994) and one to the United States of America (26 July – 7 August 1997). At the parliament. In 1995, Sayyad Aran was elected a deputy from the Zardab-Imishly-Ujar electional constituency No.67 and in 2000 from the Zardab-Imishli electional constituency No.67 to Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the basis of the majority electoral system. He was taken an active part in the preparation of a number of legislative acts. For example, at the meeting of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of  Azerbaijan held on 20 October 2009, deputy Elmira Akhundova spoke about Sayyad Aran during the discussion of the next law project on mass media: "I consider that the most progressive and substantial law in this field was adopted by Sayyad Aran professional journalist during our nationwide leader. while lecturing in journalism activity I showed this law as an example to all post-Soviet space". I convocation. Sayyad Aran represented New Azerbaijan Party at the first convocation elections to Mili Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and he participated in this election with the surname Salahov. He participated at the elections  on the basis of majority electoral system and was candidate for deputy from Zardab-Imishly-Ujar electional constituency and he was elected a deputy at the elections held on 12 November 1995. He operated in working group for Azerbaijan-China interparliamentary relations on 7 March 1997. II convocation. Sayyad Aran represented the New Azerbaijan Party at the II convocation elections for Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan unlike the previous elections he changed the end of his surname and participated at the election with Salahli surname. He participated at the election on the basis of majoritar electoral system and  nominated his candidacy for deputy from the Imishly-Ujar electional constituency No.67 and was elected a deputy at the elections held on 5 November 2000. Since 5 December 2000 during the II convocation he had been the head of the Working Group for Azerbaijan-Malaysia Inter-Parliamentary relations and operated in working group for Azerbaijan-China interparliamentary relations. Diplomatic activity. On 9 October 2006 he was given the diplomatic rank – first grade Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary envoy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 9 October 2006 to 3 May 2010 he was the Council General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in  Istanbul, Turkey and From 14 December 2006 to 3 May 2010 he had served as a Permanent Representative to the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. In 2009 he was awarded the nomination of "diplomat of the year" of First Business magazine's "Tops-2008" (Zirvadakilar-2008) award for his services on the deepening of friendship and fraternity relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey during his diplomatic activity. Activity at the State Committee. He was appointed the first deputy chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations on 16 November 2012 by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan . Sayyad Aran is the first person that appointed first deputy chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Until this appointment there had never been the first deputy chairman staff and on the same day as appointment the changes on the statue of the State Committee on Religious Associations were done by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and new staff unit were opened in the structure of the State Committee. Currently local representations (departments for regions) of the State Committee on Religious Associations is under the authority of Sayyad Aran . He was included in the editorial council of the "Society and Religion" newspaper, established by that committee in January 2013 and firstly, the 187th issue of the newspaper dated 10–16 January 2013 was published with its chief editor. In the same issue of the newspaper Sayyad Aran also wrote an essay. He has been to Hajj pilgrimage on 2–17 September 2016. Artistic-publicist activity. He has been member of Azerbaijan Writers' Union since 1995, member of Azerbaijan Journalists' Union since 1998, member of Fizuli lore assembly in the Transcaucasian Muslims Board since 2002, member of the International Association of Russian -speaking Journalists since 2003. Since 2004 he has been represented at the board of directors of Azerbaijan Writers' Union. His articles were regularly published with Sayyad Sadiq signature in "Young teacher" newspaper published at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute in 1968–1972 during his student years. Since 1978, he has made artistic and publicist speeches at the Republican press. His debut in artistic creativity happened in 1978. His first work was "Ibish uncle" story published in the 11th edition of "Ulduz" magazine, Baku in 1978. Later, his works were published in "Azerbaijan", "Literature Azerbaijan", "Qrakan Azerbaidjan", "Youth", "Azerbaijan Women", "Pioner" magazines , "Literature and art", "Voice", "525th newspaper", "Road", "Dede Gorgud" and other newspapers. "Bridge" is his first book published in "Ganjlik" publishing house, Baku in 1983. Doctor of Philology, Professor Akif Huseynov presented the "Bridge" story as one of the most successful stories of the year at the annual conference devoted to the results of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union in 1985. The 60-year jubilee event of Sayyad Aran was held at the Natavan club of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union on 14 November 2012. Speaking at the jubilee ceremony, the People's Writer of Azerbaijan, Movlud Suleymanli, made a speech at  the jubilee ceremony and assessed his performance as follows: "Sayyad Aran is a writer who is close to all that is happening – events that surround us. He does not write anything remotely even if it is smallest details. If he does not pass it through himself and does not create intimacy he does not write it. That's why his works are so alive and healthy". His literary and social activity was awarded with "Progress" medal, "Gold pen" award and "Inam" honors diploma. Family. He is married and has three sons and seven grandchildren.