The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkey, Ege University, the “Genocide Memorial Complex” in the city of Guba, the “Zəfər” Public Association for Support to Martyrs’ Families, and the Azerbaijan Association in Izmir jointly organized a conference titled “The Armenian Issue and Genocides and Deportations against Azerbaijanis in the 20th Century” at Ege University in Izmir on April 15th. The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of genocide and the playing of the national anthems of both countries. Speaking at the opening of the event, Sevinc Orucova, President of the “Victory” Public Association for Support to Martyrs’ Families, Pərviz Altay, President of the Azerbaijan Association in Izmir (İZAZDER), Nəcibə Nəsibova, Education Advisor to the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ersan, Vice Rector of Ege University, emphasized that the main purpose of this event was to inform the Turkish public in detail about the genocides committed against the Azerbaijani people and to convey the truths of Azerbaijan to the youth of Turkey. After the opening remarks, panel discussions commenced. The moderator of the conference, Prof. Dr. Vefa Kurban, Director of the Turkish World Social, Economic, and Political Relations Department of Ege University’s Turkish World Research Institute, provided information about the historical migration of Armenians to Azerbaijani territories. Following this, Prof. Dr. Nuri Karakaş, Director of the Atatürk Principles and Revolution History Application and Research Center at Ege University, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the “Armenian Issue.” During her speech on the topic of “The Policy of the Azerbaijani State in Conveying Genocides against Azerbaijanis to the World,” Rəxşəndə Bayramova, Director of the “Genocide Memorial Complex” in the city of Guba and a Doctor of Philosophy in History, noted that for the first time, political and legal assessments of genocides and deportations against Azerbaijanis were provided in decrees and orders signed by the national leader Heydar Aliyev. In the city of Guba, the specialist of the “Genocide Memorial Complex,” Associate Professor Sübhan Talıblı, who holds a doctorate in history and is an associate professor, presented his scientific discourse on “Genocides against Azerbaijanis in the 20th Century,” based on historical facts, documents, periodicals, Azerbaijani and foreign language sources. The conference was well received by local communities and university students. At the end of the conference, participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with an exhibition featuring books and photographs reflecting the genocide events against Azerbaijanis.
Noteworthy is the participation of these activists from the Youth and Sports Departments under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the initiative titled “One tree, one thousand breaths,” spearheaded by the Complex. Their involvement led to the planting of hundreds of trees, contributing to the initiative’s success.
Notable attendees at the event included Mr. Ilgar Mahmudov, the head of the Guba R&H, Mrs. Sabina Hajiyeva, the head of the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as Dr. Kahraman Agayev, the head of the archaeological monuments collection sector of the ANAS Institute of Archeology, Ethnography, and Anthropology. Representatives from law enforcement agencies, local executive authorities, department heads, enterprises, organizations, media outlets, and tens of thousands of individuals participated.
The event commenced with the laying of flowers at the monument of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, followed by homage paid at the monument erected in memory of the victims of the 1918 genocide. Participants also explored the museum within the complex and viewed a photo exhibition by Belarusian photographer Lev Dashkevich, capturing scenes from 1918.
The conclusion of the event featured Sabina Hajiyeva, head of the State Service for Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, addressing questions posed by journalists.
