A solemn conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) was held on November 3 in Baku, attended by leading scholars, state officials, and members of the academic community. President Ilham Aliyev delivered an extensive address highlighting the enduring role of science, culture, and national values in Azerbaijan’s statehood.
The President underscored that preserving the purity of the Azerbaijani language must be the responsibility of every citizen, stressing that “if there is an original Azerbaijani word, replacing it with a foreign one is either a mistake or a provocation—both are unacceptable.” He called on scholars, writers, journalists, and politicians to protect and promote linguistic authenticity.
Referring to Azerbaijan’s modern history, President Aliyev emphasized the need for comprehensive academic research on the period of independence, noting that “in the centuries-long history of Azerbaijani statehood, our country has never been as strong as it is today.”
Touching on issues of national unity, the head of state stated that Azerbaijanis have never succumbed to separatism and have always contributed positively to the societies in which they live. He added that the return of Azerbaijanis to present-day Armenia should not alarm the Armenian population.
The President also spoke about the large-scale geological exploration in Karabakh and East Zangezur, inviting Azerbaijani scientists to take part and predicting “very good news” in the near future.
On economic matters, President Aliyev pointed out that while overall GDP growth remains moderate due to lower oil output, the non-oil sector has become the main driver of the national economy. He further revealed that Azerbaijani companies are beginning to produce world-class military equipment, expanding local production and increasing exports.
Highlighting the importance of technology, President Aliyev said that artificial intelligence has become an integral part of future development, stressing that Azerbaijan’s progress in this field “is already a reality” and calling for active participation from national researchers.
Recalling the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Victory, the head of state remarked that “no second country has achieved a victory as brilliant, complete, and absolute as ours.”
President Aliyev noted that state funding for science has more than doubled over the past decade, affirming his continued commitment to the modernization of the academic sphere in line with the vision of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
Concluding his address, President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that ANAS and Azerbaijani scientists “will continue to make valuable contributions to the country’s successful development,” noting that the Academy “has played a leading role in the advancement of Azerbaijani science over the past 80 years.”
