The forum began with a visit to the Memorial Monument of the “Genocide Memorial Complex” in the city of Quba. Participants included Saida Abasova, Deputy Head of the Quba District Executive Authority, Sabuhi Bashirov, Head of the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, heads of local administrations and enterprises, employees of cultural institutions and museums operating in the district, historical monument guardians, representatives of ethnic groups, intellectuals, as well as young people.
The event started with an introduction to exhibitions featuring handicrafts and paintings by artists, posters, and traditional costumes from the “Alaca” National Costume House. At the plenary session, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, Director of the Complex, welcomed the young scholars and researchers studying Azerbaijan’s history and culture, as well as specialists working in this field, who participated in the forum.
Following this, Saida Abasova, Deputy Head of the Quba District Executive Authority, greeted the forum participants and wished them success in their work. Then, Dr. Gunay Hasanova, the project initiator, informed the participants about the purpose and significance of the forum. Professor Yusif Aliyev spoke about the protection of the ethno-cultural memory of the Azerbaijani people and the ongoing work in this direction.
Professor Fazail Valiyev shared his views on modern approaches to the study of historical and cultural heritage and their potential applications.
Forum participants engaged in extensive scientific presentations and discussions in four thematic areas: “History and Culture,” “Archaeology and Anthropology,” “Ethnography and Ethnology,” and “Historical Monuments and Tourism.” They exchanged ideas on how Azerbaijan’s ancient cultural heritage should be preserved today and passed on to future generations, presenting slides and posters on these topics. After the plenary session, the forum continued its work in four separate sections.
The sectional meetings and scientific discussions held throughout the day were of great importance for both field specialists and forum participants. The attendees became acquainted with Azerbaijani ethnography and interesting facts and information about the northeastern region.
The two-day forum will conclude on June 5 with a cultural program organized for the participants, including visits to monuments such as the Taghli Bridge, Red Town, three historic mosques, and the Gumbazli Bath.
