Unveiling of virtual Western Azerbaijan platform marks milestone in preserving cultural heritage & historical truths

The virtual Western Azerbaijan platform (www.qerbiazerbaycan.com) was unveiled at the Baku Book Centre.

Speaking at the presentation, Elvin Aslanov, a representative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev had set specific goals and tasks for Western Azerbaijan during his visit to the administrative building of the Western Azerbaijan Community on December 24, 2022, Azertac reports.

In line with these directives, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has identified several areas of focus, including archival work. In recent times, the foundation has discovered numerous documents about the history, socio-political landscape, and public life of Western Azerbaijan within the archives of both Georgia and Russia. Notably, approximately 8,000 significant documents were located within Georgian archives, and efforts are underway to expedite their transfer to Azerbaijan.

Elvin Aslanov further highlighted that the Regional Development Public Association of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in collaboration with the Western Azerbaijan Community, has been actively engaged in educating volunteers and youth across Baku and various regions. He emphasized the pivotal role that the virtual Western Azerbaijan platform will play in enlightening the general public about historical truths.

During the event, MP Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community, acknowledged the indispensable contributions of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in portraying the realities of Karabakh to the global community. He expressed optimism that the newly established platform would facilitate the repatriation process to western Azerbaijan.

Dr. Nazim Mustafa, a Board Member of the Western Azerbaijan Community and a Doctor of Philosophy in History highlighted a unique feature of the platform - it is presented in the official languages of the United Nations and serves as a guide for the return to West Azerbaijan.

Jabi Bahramov, Head of the western Azerbaijan History Department at the Abbasgulu Agi Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and a Doctor of Historical Sciences, stressed the importance of not only informing the global community about Azerbaijan's realities but also facilitating the return of the western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands.

Following the speeches, the virtual Western Azerbaijan platform was formally presented.

Developed by the Initiatives and Projects Centre with support from the Regional Development Public Association of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the platform is available in Azerbaijani, English, Russian, and Spanish. It offers content based on the history, science, and culture of western Azerbaijan, including works by scholars examining Armenian vandalism, as well as articles from periodicals and scientific journals.

The platform's main page features an interactive map showcasing the historical lands of western Azerbaijan, spanning the entirety of present-day Armenia.

Content is organized into sections such as "History," "Science and Culture," "Armenian Vandalism," "Resources," and "Eyewitness Testimonies," which include photos, videos, and geographical maps related to western Azerbaijan's history.

Additionally, the platform presents the perspectives of national leaders Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev on the issue of western Azerbaijan.

Under the "Additional Web Resources" section, users can access information on the historical, legal, and political aspects of the former Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian crimes against Azerbaijan's cultural heritage and natural resources during the Karabakh conflict, details about the Khojaly genocide, the significance of Shusha as Azerbaijan's cultural capital, and insights into the 44-day war—a pivotal chapter in Azerbaijan's history. This section also highlights the extensive construction and reconstruction efforts underway in the recently liberated territories, under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev.