Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

A scientific conference titled “Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences: From Heydar Aliyev to Ilham Aliyev” was held at the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

The event was attended by ANAS President, Academician Isa Habibbeyli; Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Philological Sciences Elnara Akimova; members of the ANAS Presidium; advisers to ANAS; heads of departments of the Presidium Office; directors and representatives of scientific institutions and organizations; and other relevant officials.

The event began with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a one-minute moment of silence in commemoration of the cherished memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

At the conference, Academician Isa Habibbeyli delivered an opening address on the topic “Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences: From Heydar Aliyev to Ilham Aliyev.” He noted that National Leader Heydar Aliyev was the outstanding architect of the new historical phase that began in Azerbaijan after 1969, a prominent statesman who prepared the Azerbaijani people for future independence, the savior of independence during the transition period, and ultimately a phenomenal personality who laid the solid foundations of Azerbaijan’s independence. The ANAS President emphasized that all stages of the National Leader’s life were directly connected with the progress of the Azerbaijani people and state.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that when the National Leader began leading Azerbaijan, the country was one of the most underdeveloped republics among the former Soviet Union states. However, as a result of large-scale economic reforms implemented within a short period, Heydar Aliyev elevated Azerbaijan to the ranks of the most advanced republics. He noted that despite all prohibitions imposed by the Soviet leadership, the National Leader ensured Azerbaijan’s development in economic, political, and socio-cultural spheres, and that the republic was awarded high honors of the USSR for its achievements.

Emphasizing that one of the greatest historical services of the great leader during that period was preparing the nation for future independence and instilling the ideology of Azerbaijani identity in people’s consciousness at a time when the ideology of proletarian internationalism dominated the former USSR, Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that as a result of the National Leader’s purposeful policy, significant achievements were also made in science, education, culture, and the arts. During those years, distinguished Azerbaijani scientists and cultural figures were awarded high state honors of the USSR.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that this historical phase was also marked by significant events for ANAS. He recalled that in 1975 the Academy of Sciences was awarded the “Order of Friendship of Peoples,” one of the highest awards of the former USSR, and that it was personally presented to the Academy’s leadership by Heydar Aliyev at a ceremony held at the Republic Palace. He emphasized that this period went down in the history of ANAS, as in all other spheres, as a stage of construction and renaissance.

On the initiative of the National Leader, private scientific institutions operating under the name of Special Design Bureau, which were not characteristic of Soviet society, were established during that period. These institutions functioned effectively only within the Academies of Sciences of Ukraine and Azerbaijan in the USSR. Decisions were also adopted to accelerate the development of molecular biology and molecular genetics for the study of hereditary factors, and events such as the Congress of the International Astronautical Federation were held in Azerbaijan. In addition, branches of scientific institutions were opened in the regions of Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan and Ganja. Prominent Azerbaijani scholars established influential scientific schools in fields such as petrochemistry, semiconductor physics, mathematics, linguistics, and literature.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that in the first years after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, stagnation was observed in the activities of the Academy of Sciences, as in all other spheres. He pointed out that during that period, a brain drain occurred and all scientific journals of the Academy ceased publication.

He recalled that following the National Leader’s return to power, one of his first meetings with Azerbaijani intellectuals was held at the Academy of Sciences on September 21, 1993. During that meeting, Heydar Aliyev firmly demonstrated his position against those intending to close the Academy by stating: “Regardless of what kind of economy there is, science must develop. The Academy of Sciences is a historical achievement of the people. You can be assured that the Academy of Sciences and its institutes will continue to operate.”

He further noted that during the meeting held by the National Leader on January 31, 1997, with the leadership of the Academy of Sciences and leading scientists of the republic, the state of national science and its tasks under new historical conditions were discussed, and important decisions regarding the Academy’s future activities were adopted. By the Decree of May 5, 2001, the Academy was granted the status of the National Academy of Sciences, and on January 4, 2003, the new Charter of the National Academy of Sciences was approved.

Stating that President Ilham Aliyev has successfully continued the National Leader’s science policy, as in all other fields, Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that a new Charter of ANAS was approved in 2014, the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory was reconstructed, and new buildings were constructed for the Central Scientific Library and the National Encyclopedia Center. He emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the 80th anniversary meeting of ANAS on November 3, 2025, and his conceptual address were historic events in the modern history of the Academy.

“In his historic speech, President Ilham Aliyev set important tasks before Azerbaijani scientists regarding language and history. He also declared artificial intelligence, digital development, and cybersecurity to be strategic priorities for our country today. In connection with the implementation of these tasks, we held important discussions at the Academy with linguists and historians. In recent days, ANAS and the Milli Majlis jointly organized productive discussions with broad public participation,” Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that Azerbaijani scientists and intellectuals would make every effort to fulfill the tasks set before them by President Ilham Aliyev, who successfully implements the National Leader’s science policy, and that they would continue to unite closely around the head of state and contribute to the development of the country.

The conference also featured presentations by Member of the Milli Majlis, Doctor of Philological Sciences Elnara Akimova on “The Role of Heydar Aliyev in the Renaissance of National Scientific and Cultural Thought”; Head of the Science and Education Department of the ANAS Presidium Office, Doctor of Philological Sciences Sarkhan Khaveri, on “The Mission of Political Leadership: The Ideal of Azerbaijani Identity from Heydar Aliyev to Ilham Aliyev”; Head of the Aliyev Studies Department of the A.A. Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of ANAS, Doctor of Historical Sciences Adalat Gasimov, on “Heydar Aliyev and the Creation of the Strategic Foundations of Azerbaijani Science”; and Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of ANAS, Doctor of Historical Sciences Eynulla Madatli, on “The Heydar Aliyev Stage in the Development of Science and Education in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.”

Translation by Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information, Presidium of ANAS.

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