On September 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the opening of Garabagh University in the city of Khankendi following its renovation.   The head of state met with the academic staff and students of Garabagh University and delivered his remarks.   Remarks by President Ilham Aliyev   - Good morning. First, I would like to sincerely congratulate you and all the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of State Sovereignty Day. We are celebrating this day together in Khankendi, and I am sure that from now on, September 20 will be extensively celebrated across Azerbaijan.   Exactly one year ago, the heroic Azerbaijan Army fully restored our state sovereignty. As a result of the anti-terrorist operation that lasted less than a day, separatists were expelled, Azerbaijan fully ensured its state sovereignty, international law triumphed, and Azerbaijan demonstrated its strength once again. We always remember with immense gratitude our heroic soldiers who granted us this day. We cherish and will always cherish the dear memory of our martyrs who died for the homeland. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace. More than 3,200 of our heroic sons rose to the peak of martyrdom during the Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation. The courage and patriotism of our other heroic soldiers were key contributors to our Victory. More than 90,000 young Azerbaijanis participated in the Second Karabakh War for the sake of the homeland.   As you know, our glorious Army advanced every day for 44 days, and settlements were liberated from the invaders daily. As far as I know, there have been no similar military operations in the world’s military history. We did not step back even for a single day. Several villages, towns, and cities were liberated on a daily basis. Not a single person abandoned the battlefield.   In the meantime, according to Armenia’s own officials, there were more than 12,000 deserters in the Armenian army. What does this indicate? Of course, it shows the high moral qualities of our people. At the same time, it shows that the young people who stepped forward were brought up in a spirit of patriotism, and the liberation of the Motherland was the most honorable mission for them. The young people who stepped forward and were prepared to die carried the mission of restoring our national dignity, and we did exactly that.   Therefore, the moral and psychological edge once again shows our overall superiority. As a country that has gone through a war, and as Commander-in-Chief, analyzing the factors that determined the outcomes of the war, I can say with full confidence that the national spirit and moral preparedness are paramount. Of course, professionalism, heroism, and the availability of equipment – all these are also important factors. But without moral superiority, without national thinking, not even the strongest army can ever achieve victory.   As you know, there are wars, military conflicts, and clashes happening in many countries around the world these days. Their number is not decreasing; it is actually increasing, and everything is quite clear. We have sufficient opportunities and information to make comparisons. For 44 days, we broke through five, six, and at times even seven lines of enemy defense in this difficult geographical terrain, advancing every day, climbing from the bottom to the top, sustaining losses, and liberating the impregnable fortress of Shusha by climbing its steep rocks with only light weapons. What other army has displayed such heroism and shown such professionalism in modern history? This is the truth.   Of course, we are rightfully proud of this Victory and our soldiers, and we always will be. However, I am confident that every impartial analyst, military expert, and objective observer should be able to reach the same conclusion after analyzing the entire 44-day history of this heroism.   As for the anti-terror operation, the operation, which lasted only a few hours, ended with a complete victory for the Azerbaijani Army. The military contingent of the Armenian army, numbering more than 15,000, was completely paralyzed, and after just a few hours, we began discussing terms of surrender with them. It is said that it took 23 hours; yes, the whole process took 23 hours. However, the military component of this process lasted only a few hours.   All this is further evidence of the strength of our state, the determination of our people, and the upbringing and skills of the young generation. The Second Karabakh War and the anti-terrorist operation allowed Azerbaijan not only to restore international law, not only to restore its national pride, but also to demonstrate to the whole world that injustice cannot last forever.   During the occupation, I had many meetings with former IDPs. As you know, the government implemented several important projects to improve their living conditions. Almost every year, we relocated 15,000-20,000 former IDPs to new settlements, houses, and apartments, and thus their standard of living kept on improving. More than 300,000 formerly displaced people had already been moved from those dormitories, those unsuitable places and kindergartens.   However, at the same time, every time I met with them, I told them that this was only their temporary residence, and that the day would come when better conditions would be created for them in the liberated lands. I believed it, they believed it, all our people believed it, and we all lived with this idea. At the same time, over the years, I could see that their hopes were slowly dwindling. And this was natural because the occupation lasted nearly 30 years.   Thousands, even tens of thousands of former IDPs did not live to see this day of Victory. They passed away. Of course, when analyzing the processes going on in the world, the current injustices, the failure of international law, the great powers backing Armenia, and when analyzing all this, the geopolitical situation, some people could have thought that we had to live under this occupation forever.   We have shattered all these theses and paradigms. We have demonstrated that with strong will, professionalism, patriotism, and a young generation raised in the national spirit, no force can stand in the way of a nation like that. Not the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th defense lines, nor the geographical advantage of the Armenian army, which was positioned on all the hills, and not even the great powers or countries that armed Armenia and provided it with moral and physical support.   When all these factors come together, no one can stand in the way of such a nation. We have shown the entire world and the peoples still suffering from occupation or even colonialism today that they should have faith. Faith must never be broken. If faith is lost, then justice can never prevail. But there is still justice in the world. As President, I also thought at certain times that there was no justice in the world. But I knew that in order to achieve this justice, one must secure it themselves, as it will not fall from the sky.   Truth can be on your side, the whole world may acknowledge and know that you are right, but still there will be no result. Therefore, this should be the basis for our future endeavors. Of course, our example serves as a beacon of hope for many people still suffering from occupation and facing injustices today. This is important. But the primary goal for our people in the future is to rely on our own strength, to remain resilient, to build a powerful state, and to depend on no one, bowing down to no one.   Of course, there must be a state policy to ensure this, and there is. There must also be a unity in our society, and there is. The 44-day Patriotic War showed that there is probably no other country where society would demonstrate such unity as ours. The generation coming after us, the young people, should also follow this path. First of all, they should be educated in the national spirit, they should be attached to their culture, traditions, and moral values. They should not be influenced by anyone and should not be misguided by various promises.   This 30-year occupation of our lands showed it. Almost all the great powers, all of them, sought to perpetuate this occupation. No one wanted our people to free themselves from this occupation. In other words, they wanted to keep us under constant pressure, to use this occupation as a tool of influence, to secure their own interests, and, as a result, force us to come to terms with this situation.   During the occupation, visitors from different capitals repeatedly said that there was no military solution to this issue, to this conflict. You may also remember that there was a thesis – there is no military solution, and it should be solved peacefully. At the same time, it was not called 'the First Karabakh War' at that time, but the results of the Karabakh War should also be taken into account. In other words, what did they want us to come to terms with? They wanted us to accept defeat. They wanted our people to come to terms with that defeat.   Another thesis was that it was necessary to start cooperating with Armenia. Various seminars were held through non-governmental organizations. Certain people in our society sold themselves to foreign circles, attended those trainings, mingled with Armenians, made deals, and organized joint meetings with them. What contacts could we have with the bloodthirsty enemy who had committed the Khojaly genocide and razed all our cities and villages in the Karabakh region to the ground? But the goal of those who wanted to perpetuate this occupation was that the future generation, the young generation, should no longer want war, that we should make peace with Armenia, and thus the occupation would remain in place. We, the people of Azerbaijan, shattered all these plans, we overturned them.   This is exactly why we have come under pressure to this day. Every morning, I review the media, including the articles about Azerbaijan published in different parts of the world. Early this morning, I again came across many baseless accusations leveled against us. Politicians and officials from different Western countries, as well as official representatives of some other countries, make unacceptable statements that Azerbaijan has allegedly occupied Karabakh. This is the peak of hypocrisy. How can a country occupy its own land? Our war was the one of liberation. Those claiming this, those making these accusations against us know this perfectly very well. Simply put, it is double standards, hypocrisy, Islamophobia and enmity towards our people. We must never forget this and the young generation must remember this.   Of course, you did not live in those years and read about that period from history books. Therefore, teachers in both secondary schools and universities have a great responsibility on their shoulders. I would like to specifically mention our teachers and their work today. Because they have played a huge role in educating our youth in the spirit of patriotism, and they are still playing this role today. There are two sources of education - family and teachers. Fortunately, family values prevail in Azerbaijan and this should always be the case. This stems from our traditions. At the same time, in some Western countries, family values have completely deformed, and all of us are rightly disgusted about that. Therefore, family values and family education should always be protected. I repeat that teachers are working hard and effectively to improve the knowledge of children and young people while also educating them in the spirit of patriotism.   The Second Karabakh War showed this. Young people who had never seen Karabakh were prepared to die for it, they were ready to die. Some became martyrs, others were wounded. And yet they did not stop and secured this Victory. Many of our servicemen in military hospitals were asking the doctors, “Put me back on my feet as soon as possible and let me go back to the war again.” There were many of them. After treatment, lightly wounded servicemen volunteered to return to the war zone.   We are also inaugurating the Garabagh University today. This opening could be held on any day, but I thought it would be best if we held it on September 20. Because this is our glorious history. I believe that the establishment of Garabagh University is a historic milestone, and a relevant order was signed last November. Then I arrived here. This is my third visit here, and all the instructions have been given. The Ministry of Science and Education took all the necessary measures promptly. You can say that the building has been reconstructed. This building was constructed by Azerbaijani architects and builders during the Soviet era. During the occupation, certain changes were made to make it appear Armenian.   Those signs have now been completely erased. The front yard of the building has been opened and a beautiful park has been created. A master plan has been developed, i.e. new educational buildings will be established in the coming years, perhaps in the next three years. A beautiful dormitory has been created and I visited it today. Most importantly, young people, i.e. students, have started to come here with great enthusiasm. I was told that there are 1,200 students. There are students from every region of our country. Those who have performed well in admission tests, including those who scored more than 600 points, are attending this meeting and have come here with enormous enthusiasm. The academic team has also been formed. I am aware that teachers are also very enthusiastic about this work, and I do hope that the Garabagh University becomes one of our leading universities.   There are all possibilities to do this. According to the information available, six faculties have already been established. A medical faculty will also be established in the coming years. The Faculty of Agrarian Sciences will operate in Khojaly and Faculty of Tourism will be based in Shusha. In other words, it will be a university spanning several cities. Of course, former IDPs who will return to Karabakh, their children will study here, and young people from all over our country will come here.   This is our historical land, and I am sure that there is no one in Azerbaijan who does not know this. They know all over the world that the city of Khankendi was an ancient Azerbaijani settlement and its name indicates that it was Khan's village. However, as a result of the policy of hostility against Azerbaijan and our people, our control here was either weak or completely non-existent for many years. The three agreements signed at the beginning of the 19th century – Kurakchay, Gulustan, and Turkmanchay – actually paved the way for subsequent occupation. It was after these agreements that Armenians, who had never lived in the land of Karabakh before, were moved here en masse from Iran and Eastern Anatolia.   This is the truth; this is an accurate account of history. Armenia and Armenian scientists, as always, tried to create a fictional history by distorting facts and managed to mislead the international community to some extent through their lobbying networks.   At the beginning of the 20th century, further hostile steps were taken against our people. In 1923, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was created in Karabakh, within the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic, without any basis whatsoever. This region was subordinated to the central authority of the Soviet Union. This was yet another step to sever this region from the rest of Azerbaijan. Three years prior to that, they had taken Zangezur away from us, i.e. West Zangezur, in a completely unjustifiable manner. They did this in November 1920, a few months after the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.   In 1923, they planted another time bomb, and then a policy of massive Armenianization was carried out here. The Soviet government deliberately brought Armenians here from various places, including Armenia itself, in order to increase the number of Armenians within the former autonomous province. At the same time, there was no proper response to the separatist tendencies here. However, after National Leader Heydar Aliyev came to power in Azerbaijan, in 1969, all of the separatist nests here were eliminated and stability set in. In the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, the number of Azerbaijanis increased from 9 percent to approximately 30 percent. The railway was built so that Azerbaijanis from different regions could come here faster. A railway station was built in Khankendi and major infrastructure projects were implemented – the Sarsang and Sugovushan reservoirs, which the Armenians used to deprive us of water during the occupation. Several enterprises were established, and Azerbaijanis working in those enterprises came here from different regions, including the Karabakh region. All this was going on.   However, after Heydar Aliyev had resigned in 1987, separatists rose their head yet again, and this time it cost our people very dearly. The young people are probably unaware that two weeks after Heydar Aliyev's resignation, a Soviet Armenian scientist published an article in the French newspaper L'Humanité suggesting that the “Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast” should be severed from Azerbaijan and annexed to Armenia. In a matter of two weeks - Heydar Aliyev was no longer in power – a movement started here in Khankendi and in Armenia and various organizations were created.   The central government, i.e. the leadership of the Soviet Union, turned a blind eye to that. It actually encouraged separatists, Armenian nationalists, inciting them to become more active. The task was to separate Nagorno-Karabakh from the rest of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the then-leaders of Azerbaijan showed weakness, cowardice and even betrayal. Both in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we lost lands as a result of the treachery and cowardice of the Communist and Popular Front government.   Azerbaijanis were driven out of Khankendi, after then, four months after the declaration of independence, the Khojaly genocide was committed in February 1992. Shusha and Lachin were occupied in May 1992 and Kalbadjar in April 1993. Thus, if we look at the map, we can see that this entire region went out of our control and a geographical link was actually created between Armenia and the Karabakh region. This was our history.   Again, paying tribute to the memory of the National Leader today, we reiterate that had he not returned to Azerbaijan in 1993 at the request of the people, Azerbaijan could have completely disappeared from the world map. Stability was established, development was initiated and forming of a nation began. The logical result of that was November 8, Victory Day, the liberation of Shusha and the capitulation of Armenia. Subsequent history is already well known. If we analyze all our steps and the work we did from November 2020 to September 2023, we can see that each step was a logical continuation of the previous step, and the ultimate goal of each step was September 20, State Sovereignty Day.   Let me greet you from the bottom of my heart again. I can talk a lot about the history of Azerbaijan because I have lived this history, the history of the last 30 years, and visiting Karabakh, the free Karabakh today, seeing you, seeing the smiling faces of the students in the dormitory, on that balcony is a truly enormous happiness. There can hardly be any greater happiness than this. I wish our teachers and students every success. Work hard and study well, so that Azerbaijan always gets the upper hand, so that Azerbaijan is always on top - on the battlefield, if necessary, in the economic field and in the political field! I congratulate you.   https://president.az

20/09/2024 10:15

On September 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the inauguration of the newly renovated student dormitory of Garabagh University in the city of Khankendi.   Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education, and Shahin Bayramov, Rector of Garabagh University, briefed the head of state on the completed renovations.   Appropriate buildings have been allocated for the accommodation of students and staff on the university campus.   President Ilham Aliyev viewed the conditions established in the student dormitory, which comprises five apartment-type buildings fully renovated to modern standards. Each apartment is equipped with necessary amenities, ensuring comfortable living conditions in line with contemporary campus concepts. The facility includes relaxation areas, a canteen, and a sports area, accommodating 1,154 students free of charge.   Additionally, four buildings designated for university staff and their families contain 186 apartments, all thoroughly renovated and equipped. Accommodations have been provided for up to 140 staff members and their family members, who will reside in these apartments free of charge during their employment at the university.   https://president.az

20/09/2024 10:00

On September 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of nursery-kindergarten No. 1 in the city of Khankendi following its renovation.   The head of state was briefed on the new facilities and improvements at the kindergarten.   Renovation work, commissioned by the Ministry of Science and Education, began in May this year. The project included a comprehensive overhaul of the 80-child capacity facility, covering 0.21 hectares with a total area of 1,340 square meters. The renovated kindergarten now features four group rooms, a medical room, a methodical cabinet, a kitchen, an assembly hall, a sports hall, and a laundry room.   https://president.az

19/09/2024 16:44

On September 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the reopening of Nizami Ganjavi Secondary School No. 4 in Khankendi, following its renovation.   Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev briefed the President on the improvements made at the school.   The renovation work at Khankendi’s School No. 4, which accommodates 624 students, began in May this year under the Ministry of Science and Education’s directive. The project encompasses 0.67 hectares with a total area of 3,760 square meters. The refurbished school features 11 classrooms, laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology, technology and IT rooms, two STEAM rooms, a library, a school hall, a sports hall, and a canteen.   https://president.az

19/09/2024 16:00

On September 12, the Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, met with representatives of the Times Higher Education (THE) International Rating Agency.   In addition to the current status of Azerbaijan's higher education institutions in THE ratings, the meeting discussed prospects for further cooperation between the agency and the ministry.   Following the discussion, the Times Higher Education (THE) International Rating Agency management presented the Minister of Science and Education with a certificate reflecting the successful results of Azerbaijan's higher education institutions on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in “THE Impact 2024” program.

12/09/2024 18:39

On September 11-12, an international forum on "Prioritizing climate education on the global higher education agenda" was held within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Education and Times Higher Education International Rating Agency. Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and Sumgayit State University hosted the forum organized by the State Agency for Science and Higher Education.   The  purpose of forum  is to enhance the role of higher education institutions in supporting 13th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations (UN), encouraging joint cooperation between higher education institutions and other stakeholders to address the climate crisis,  as well as exchanging ideas about the importance of tackling climate change in scientific research.   Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, who gave an opening speech at the forum, emphasized the importance of holding an international forum for Azerbaijan’s higher education institutions and increasing the competitiveness of universities in preparation for COP29.    Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Energy, Chief Executive Officer of COP29, spoke about energy security and activities of our country in the period of transition to green energy, steps to be taken against the global climate crisis, as well as the importance of active participation of the scientific community in issues related to climate change at COP29.   In their speeches, Acting Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry Vazeh Asgarov and Rector of Sumgayit State University Rufat Azizov noted that active participation in tackling climate change has made an invaluable contribution to our country's transition to green energy. In his speech, Phil Baty, Director General for Global Affairs at Times Higher Education, an international rating agency, spoke about the importance of participation and success of Azerbaijan's higher education institutions in “THE Impact” rating, actively applying strategies in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in recent years.   Ulkar Sattarova, Director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, who participated in a panel discussion on “Country Context: Challenges and Opportunities Towards Climate Awareness in Post-Oil Countries’, noted that in order to succeed in the area under consideration, it is necessary to raise awareness starting from the primary level of education and train academic staff and students in higher education institutions.   The forum, which continued with panel discussions, was attended by COP29 senior climate advocate Nigar Arpadaray, Director of Climate Education at the University of Cambridge Christine Ozden, Professor Siram Ramakrishna of the National University of Singapore, and Warwick University representative Geret Robert. The event was also attended by BP Azerbaijan Vice President for Caspian Region Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, ADA University Vice-Rector Fariz Ismayilzadeh, “British Council” Country Director Nargiz Hajiyeva and other official guests, heads of universities, politicians, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations.   More than 200 representatives from 26 countries took part in the forum.  

12/09/2024 18:29

By order of President Ilham Aliyev, an opening ceremony of a modern primary school named after Heydar Aliyev was held in the newly constructed “Azerbaijan” neighborhood of the Turkish town of Kahramanmarash.   The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, Emin Amrullayev, the Minister of National Education of Turkey, Yusuf Tekin, and delegations from both countries.   The guests who familiarized themselves with the conditions created at the school were informed that children with disabilities were also taken into account in the construction of the three-storey school building, the foundation of which was laid in April last year. The school features a gymnasium, a library, and a shelter to ensure the safety of students in various situations. The primary school also has additional rooms set up to support learning. It also boasts a workshop with special tools and educational materials, a classroom with musical instruments, two classrooms for drawing and crafts, and a cabinet for technology, mathematics, and engineering lessons. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Emin Amrullayev noted that the brotherhood of Azerbaijan and Turkey is not just in words but also in action. The Minister also congratulated all residents of the city on the opening of the school and wished success to teachers and pupils there.   It should be reminded that by President Ilham Aliyev’s order, Azerbaijan supported the construction of a new neighborhood in Kahramanmarash province affected by the devastating earthquake in Turkey on 6 February 2023. By the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation signed in this regard on 25 September last year in Nakhchivan city, the Azerbaijani government allocated funds for the implementation of the project in a total amount of 100 million US dollars.

11/09/2024 18:00

On September 5, Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli addressed the 6th plenary session of the UNESCO Digital Learning Week.   In his speech at the plenary session entitled “Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Transition to Digital and Green Education” Hasan Hasanli spoke about the educational policy on transition to digital and green education and shared the successful experience of our country with the audience. Recalling that the COP29 event will be held in Azerbaijan and that 2024 is announced as “The year of solidarity for a green world”, the Deputy Minister also provided information on the measures implemented in this direction in the field of science and education.

05/09/2024 20:19

Participation of the Azerbaijani delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli in the UNESCO Digital Learning Week continues.   On the third day of the event, the Azerbaijani delegation participated in a number of plenary sessions on the use and evaluation of artificial intelligence in education and learning.   Within the framework of the event Hasan Hasanli met with Mohamed Elfarnawany, Director of UNESCO's “Priority Africa” Project (PAX) and Vera Lacoeuilhe, Chairperson of UNESCO's Executive Board. During the meetings the current situation and prospects of cooperation with UNESCO in the field of science and education, as well as opportunities for joint actions under the “PAX" project were discussed.   UNESCO's Digital Learning Week will run until September 5.

04/09/2024 20:13

Azerbaijani delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli continues its participation in the UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week.   On the second day of the event, the Azerbaijani delegation participated in a number of plenary sessions on the topics of digitization of education, the use of artificial intelligence in education, and green and digital challenges.   Within the framework of the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli met with the President of the UNESCO General Conference Simona Miculescu and UNESCO Deputy Director General for Natural Sciences Lidia Brito. During the meetings, the current state of cooperation with UNESCO in the field of science and education and the prospects for the development of cooperation were discussed.   It should be noted that other bilateral meetings are scheduled for the coming days.   UNESCO's Digital Learning Week will run through September 5.

03/09/2024 20:14