Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The opening ceremony of the 3rd Turkic World Literature and Book Festival (III LitBookFest) was held in the Academy of Sciences Park situated in front of the main building of ANAS on May 24.

The festival was held with the organization of the International Turkic Authors’ Union, and the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, the Cultural Committee of Milli Majlis, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Baku City Executive Power, the International Turkic Academy, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency and others.

This time the festival will last 8 days and each day will be dedicated to a certain country- Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. 

First, the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed and the memory of the martyrs was commemorated with a minute of silence.

People's Writer, chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union Anar delivered his speech at the event. He highlighted the great significance of the 3rd Turkic World Literature and Book Festival which would contribute to the unbreakable unity of the Turkic World and further strengthening of the relations among the Turkic states. People's Writer Anar noted that a book had been a human's first and best companion for centuries and played a valuable role in one's growth, improvement, and enrichment of spiritual world, worldview, and all-round development.

The People's Writer emphasized that the main objective of the festival was to develop and promote a culture of reading, keep reading habits, and further increase interest in the books. Then, People's Writer Anar expressed his gratitude to the guests coming from the Turkic states.  

Afterward, academician Isa Habibbeyli, president of ANAS made a speech at the event noting that the festival was another clear example of friendship and unity of the Turkic states.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that the 3rd Turkic World Literature and Book Festival differed from previous ones in some aspects.

He said that the III LitBookFest was held for the first time in the conditions of full territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the glorious victory of Azerbaijan in the 44-day Patriotic War due to the strong will of President Ilham Aliyev, and full restoration of its territorial integrity as a result of the successful military operations were historical and important events for both Azerbaijan and the Turkic world.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that during the inauguration ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted cooperation with the Turkic world as the priority in the state policy and described the Organization of Turkic States as one family. He noted that the 3rd Turkic World Literature and Book Festival was a significant contribution to the expansion of Azerbaijan's relations with the Turkic world and the further development of integration.

The academician reminded last year’s festival that gathered the staff of ANAS with other scientists of the country and said that Azerbaijani scientists informed the Turkic world about the achievements of our science during a week and got closely acquainted with the processes in the scientific-cultural and literary spheres of the Turkic world.

The academician underlined that the hosting of the Turkic World Literature and Book Festival in Azerbaijan was an important event in developing the intellectual environment, science, and culture of Azerbaijan as well.

Then, academician Nizami Jafarov, director of the Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan spoke about the literary riches of the Turkic World. He said that the festival served to promote the Turkic history and culture. The academician reminded the words of President Ilham Aliyev at the festival: “The Organization of Turkic States is the main international organization for us because it is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world”. He also noted that recent discussions held on the creation of the common Turkic alphabet were of great importance.

Representative of the International Turkic Academy Abulfas Suleymanli, representative of TURKSOY on Azerbaijan Elchin Gafarli, Baku program coordinator of TIKA Hayrettin Ozchevik, Culture and Publicity Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan Muhittin Macit, expert of the Cultural Committee of the Milli Majlis Akbar Goshali made speeches at the event underlining the importance of the festival in strengthening the literary-cultural relations among the Turkic nations.

It should be mentioned that along with the discussions, book presentations, conferences, and concerts, the events dedicated to the jubilees of prominent writers will also be organized during the festival and new editions of different publishing houses will be presented.

The 3rd Turkic World Literature and Book Festival will continue till May 31.

Translator: Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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