A presentation ceremony has been held for the book "History of the Iravan Qazılıq," prepared jointly by the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) and the Western Azerbaijan Community, APA reports.
The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community Aziz Alakbarli, President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Isa Habibbayli, and members of the Milli Majlis (Parliament).
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade stated that the Caucasus Muslims Office constantly considers awareness-raising activities related to Western Azerbaijan a priority and an essential part of its work and supports the policy of returning compatriots deported from Armenia to their places of origin in accordance with the interests of the state and the people.
"To this end, the Caucasus Muslims Office, in cooperation with the Western Azerbaijan Community, has published a book in Azerbaijani and English titled 'History of the Iravan Qazılıq,' consisting of documentary materials. We present this valuable book to you with great pride and honor," he said.
It was noted that the main sources of the materials included in the book are documents preserved in the archives of the Caucasus Muslims Office.
"This book, prepared on the basis of our archival documents, as well as sources and historical materials obtained from the state archives of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye and Russia, is of particular scientific and socio-political value," the statement noted.
It was also stated that, unlike what was described as historical falsifications and disinformation by the Armenian Church, which was said to be seriously concerned about the restoration of the historical Iravan Qazılıq, the authors assert their moral rights based on what they describe as genuine historical facts.
"Through the book 'History of the Iravan Qazılıq' and its ongoing activities, the Caucasus Muslims Office will make every effort to promote the recognition of the realities of Western Azerbaijan at the international level and will spare no effort to restore the religious and spiritual rights of our compatriots and strengthen the spiritual foundations of our return to our historical lands."
A video about the history of the Iravan Qazılıq was then screened.
Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community and Member of the Milli Majlis Aziz Alakbarli stated that over the past two hundred years, not only had what he described as the historical lands of Western Azerbaijan been subjected to aggression and occupation, and its people to ethnic cleansing, deportation and genocide, but the cultural heritage in that region had also been subjected to what he called Armenian vandalism, resulting in its destruction, elimination or Armenization.
"One of the areas that suffered the greatest losses was our religious values. Since Azerbaijan is a country historically distinguished by national and religious diversity and tolerance, Armenians who were resettled here en masse from various countries following the Russian occupation first seized the religious temples belonging to our ancestors in these territories, converted them into Armenian Gregorian churches under the pretext of restoration, and then spread the false claim throughout the world that they were the ancient inhabitants of these lands," he said.
President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbayli, stated that the historical sources and archival documents included in the book concerning the activities of the Qazılıq in the historical territory of the Iravan region serve as evidence confirming, in his view, that the region, namely Iravan province, was Azerbaijani land.
"The book is dedicated to the history of the Iravan Qazılıq, and it can undoubtedly also be called the history of Iravan province, the history of Iravan.
This book presents a magnificent and inspiring picture that serves to further deepen and strengthen the ideology of Azerbaijanism in our country, Azerbaijan, and our understanding of Azerbaijan's spiritual and cultural heritage and historical territories," he said.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
