The Moscow State University Baku Branch held a roundtable “Research Center of Azerbaijan and Caucasilogy after Nizami Ganjavi at the Oxford University”.
The event was attended by Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Efendiyev, vice president of the National Academy of Sciences (ANAS ), director of the Institute of Literature after Nizami Ganjavi, academician Isa Habibbayli, Rector of the Baku branch of Moscow State University, Doctor of Philology, Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, director of the National Museum of History Naila Valikhanli, deputy director of the Institute of Literature, corresponding member of ANAS Teymur Karimli, director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of ANAS, Doctor of Philology, Professor Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Head of the Department of General Linguistics of the Baku State University (BSU), corresponding member of ANAS Nizami Jafarov, as well as prominent scientists , historians, orientalists, linguists and public figures.
Addressing the event, professor Pashayeva noted that at the invitation of the Department of Oriental Studies she visited the Oxford University in October. “Earlier, two professors and orientalists of Oxford University visited the Baku branch of Moscow State University to explore the activity of the high school.”
At the meeting with British scientists, Nargiz Pashayeva proposed to open a research center at Oxford University, which in the future would be recognized and accepted as a part of Oxford University.
According to the rector, the representatives of the University of Oxford supported this idea. Nargiz Pashayeva suggested naming the Center after Nizami Ganjavi, who, as noted by a British scientists at Oxford University, is accepted as a Persian poet. “I told them that I see Nizami as a personality - creating and uniting, but not dividing the nations, and who brings together different views and approaches. If you agree, I said, we shall call this Scientific Center named after Nizami and it will function in accordance with these principles, this policy and approach,” Pashayeva said.
Nargiz Pahsayeva said that the main objective of the Centre was not a desire to prove that Nizami Ganjavi was an Azerbaijani poet. This is proven, she said, by his works, his philosophy, sayings and way of life. “The Center will promote Azerbaijani history, language and literature in this temple of science as Oxford University. The purpose of the Centre is also to promote scientific and public figures of Azerbaijan, who were not recognized on the international arena during the Soviet era.”
“The Azerbaijani scientists, orientalists, turkologists have beautiful works that are not inferior to the level of books, which are taught at the Oxford University, and books written by German, British, French scientists. “During the negotiations, it became clear that the representatives of the University of Oxford were not informed about it,” Pashayeva noted.
According to her, a memorandum on the establishment of the “Scientific Center of Azerbaijan and Caucasiology after Nizami Ganjavi at Oxford University” was already signed and the key point is that this Center began to function.
Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Efendiyev said that the opening of the Centre at the Oxford University is a remarkable event for the independent Azerbaijan. “The opening of the Center in this historic and world famous university will create an excellent opportunity to inform the world public about the rich history and literature of Azerbaijan.”
Head of the Department of Turkic Studies, BSU, corresponding member of ANAS Tofig Hajiyev, Vice-president of ANAS, Director of the Institute of Literature after Nizami, academician Isa Habibbayli and doctor of historical sciences Solmaz Rustamova-Tohidi praised the establishment of the center in terms of the recognition of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani literature in the world.
The Research Center of Azerbaijan and Caucasiology after Nizami Ganjavi at the Institute of Oriental Studies at Oxford University is the first research center to study the history and culture of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region.
The Centre is designed to conduct researches, academic exchange, roundtables, conferences, scholarship programs and cultural projects at the Oxford University.

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