Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On November 6, the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli met with the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Sheikh Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin, the First Deputy Chairman, Professor Damir Muhatdinov, the Special Representative of the Organization for Azerbaijan, Safa Karimov, and the employees, who are on a visit to our country within the framework of the Global Baku Summit of Religious Leaders.  

The meeting, held at the Presidium of ANAS, was also attended by members of the Presidium, heads of departments of the Presidium administration, employees of the departments, as well as representatives of the Academy’s scientific institutions and organizations.

In his speech at the meeting, Academician Isa Habibbeyli expressed his pleasure at seeing the guests in our country and at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. He spoke about the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as between Azerbaijan and Tatarstan, and underlined that the economic, political, literary, and cultural relations between our states are at a high level. Saying that the relations between ANAS and the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) are expanding and also at a high level, the Academician noted that a cooperation agreement was signed between the academies in 2021, and in 2023, this agreement was renewed, establishing a new roadmap. He emphasized that the scientific institutions of ANAS have extensive relations with the relevant institutes of RAS in the fields of philosophy, history, linguistics, literature, and oriental studies. He also added that joint conferences have been held, articles have been prepared, and publications have been released.

The head of ANAS mentioned that joint research on studying epic culture is currently conducted between ANAS and the Russian Academy of Sciences. He noted that the project is carried out jointly with the A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as institutions of the Udmurt Republic and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) of the Russian Federation. According to the Academician an international conference will be held in December of this year with the participation of the staff of these organizations.

Touching on the political relations between Azerbaijan and Tatarstan, Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that the foundations of the close friendship relations between our countries were laid by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the first President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev. As a continuation of these relations, there is now high level of relations between President Ilham Aliyev and Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.

The head of ANAS recalled that President Ilham Aliyev visited Kazan last month to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit. The President of Azerbaijan was awarded Tatarstan’s highest state award, the Order of “Duslyk” (the Order of Friendship), by Rustam Minnikhanov.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli mentioned that there are also close cooperation relations between ANAS and the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. Extensive research is conducted at ANAS on the history, literature, culture, art, and prominent figures of the brotherly country and dissertations are written on these topics. According to the Academician a joint summer school will be organized by the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS and the Archaeology Institute of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli presented a book “Gabdulla Tukay and Azerbaijan”, co-authored by him, to the guests. He mentioned that the book discusses the connections of Gabdulla Tukay, a prominent representative of Tatar literature, philosopher, poet, publicist, translator, and public figure, with Azerbaijani press and literature, as well as the publication and study of his literary heritage in Azerbaijan. Academician Isa Habibbeyli also touched on the close friendship relations between Nariman Narimanov and Gabdulla Tukay.

Then, Professor Ravil Gaynutdin, the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, greeted the participants and expressed his pleasure at being at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Speaking about his personal meetings with National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, the guest expressed that the Azerbaijani people take pride in liberating their historic territories from occupation and, in 2020, he congratulated Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev on the Victory on behalf of the 25 million Muslim community. He added that hosting the COP29 event in Azerbaijan once again demonstrates the position of the country’s leader and our people on the international stage.

In his detailed presentation, Ravil Gaynutdin spoke about the coexistence of various peoples in Russia, the summit of religious leaders held in different years, the establishment and activities of state bodies dealing with religious matters, the role of religious communities in the development of Russian society and the state, as well as Muslim monuments, mosques located in various cities across Russia. He mentioned that religious institutions actively participate in the preparation of relevant draft laws and legal acts, and the inclusion of theology in the scientific specialties nomenclature plays a significant role in the training of a new generation of theologian scholars.

The guest mentioned that intercultural and interreligious dialogue is one of the key factors for countries and peoples to live in peace and tranquility. He underlined that the organization he leads cooperates with organizations that respect various peoples, confessions, and cultures, and avoid extremism and terrorism. He highlighted his initiatives focused on peace, unity, moral and intellectual development, and the proper upbringing of youth. The guest mentioned that the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation cooperates with the Russian Academy of Sciences and higher education institutions. Among the implemented projects, there are translation and publication of works by theologian scholars, competitions for those who recite the Quran, as well as the organization of forums and conferences. “With the initiative of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and several other religious organizations, the Bolgar Islamic Academy was established in the city of Bolgar, Tatarstan. Not only theologian scholars are trained here, but also significant events are carried out for interreligious dialogue.

Speaking about the historical and cultural ties between the Azerbaijani and Tatar peoples, Ravil Gaynutdin, talked about the house of Shamsi Asadullayev, a millionaire and philanthropist from Baku, located in Moscow. He emphasized that it was in this house that the All-Russian Muslim Congress was held in May 1917. The guest expressed his satisfaction with the fact that he was currently in the historic place, where the Presidium of ANAS is located, a building constructed by another Azerbaijani millionaire and philanthropist, Musa Naghiyev. Ravil Gaynutdin also expressed his deep gratitude to the Academy’s leadership for the opportunity to speak in the hall where the First Turkology Congress took place. He also spoke about the contributions of Academician Isa Habibbeyli to the development of relations between ANAS and the Russian Academy of Sciences, especially with the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, and wished the leadership of ANAS success in the future activities.

At the end of his speech, the Grand Mufti of Russia congratulated Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the entire Azerbaijani people on the upcoming Victory Day, wishing our people peace and security, prosperity, and new victories.

Making a speech at the event, First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and Rector of the Moscow Islamic Institute, Professor Damir Muhatdinov, spoke about the similarities, historical, and spiritual connections between the two brotherly peoples. The guest talked about the invaluable contributions of Mirza Jafar Topchubashov and Mirza Kazim Bey in the establishment and development of Russian Oriental Studies. The Professor also emphasized that in the early 20th century, the Muslim faction of the State Duma of the Russian Empire was formed under the leadership of the Azerbaijani intellectual Alimardan bey Topchubashov. 

In his closing speech, Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that today’s meeting will give impetus to the establishment of cooperation relations in the scientific sphere between ANAS and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation.

After the speeches, mutual gifts were exchanged, and commemorative photos were taken.

It should be noted that, the Global Baku Summit of Religious Leaders, initiated and supported by President Ilham Aliyev, was held within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). The summit took place on November 5-6 and was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, the State Committee for Work with Religious Institutions, the International Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office, and the UN Environment Programme, on the topic “World Religions for a Green Planet”.

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

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