On May 14, the opening ceremony of the International Scientific Conference “100th Anniversary of the First Turkological Congress: Language Issues” was held at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. The international conference, organized in both physical and online formats on May 14-15 by the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, TURKSOY, Yunis Emre Institute, Tashkent International University and the Faculty of Philology of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, brought together scientists and researchers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Estonia, Afghanistan and other countries.
The participants of the event first visited the grave of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the Alley of Honor and laid flowers in front of the grave of the Great Leader, paying tribute to his soul.
The opening ceremony was attended by state officials, representatives of the educational community, university administration and faculty, as well as well-known scientists from Azerbaijan and foreign countries.
Delivering an introductory speech at the conference, Associate Professor Konul Hasanova, Dean of the Faculty of Philology of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, expressed gratitude to the participants of the event for their great interest in the conference on behalf of the faculty staff and spoke about the importance of conveying the scientific heritage of the First Turkological Congress to the younger generation, strengthening love for the mother tongue and promoting national and spiritual values. Dean Konul Hasanova provided information about the consistent and systematic activities carried out in this direction at the Faculty of Philology of the Pedagogical University.
Professor Jafar Jafarov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, said in his speech that the First Baku Turkological Congress is not only an important event in the history of linguistics, but also a historical platform that played a special role in the formation of the scientific and cultural unity of the Turkic world as a whole. The Rector emphasized that the ideas of a common language, a common alphabet, a common terminology and a common future, which were founded in Baku exactly a century ago, remain relevant today. In his speech, Jafar Jafarov also drew attention to the historical connection of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University with the First Turkological Congress, noting that on March 2, 1926, the Congress participants were guests of the Higher Pedagogical Institute, which was the only higher education institution operating in the national language at that time. At that time, Jalil Mammadzadeh, the director of the Pedagogical Institute, was one of the main architects of this historical process as a member of the 9-member organizing committee of the Congress and the chairman of the Mandate Commission. Also, Sharif Manatov, Panah Gasimov and Huseyn Musayev, who headed the Pedagogical University at different times, and Bekir Chobanzadeh, Nikolay Ashmarin, Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold, Aleksandr Nikolayevich Samoilovich, Hanafi Zeynalli, Abdulla Taghizadeh, a total of 12 teachers also spoke about the future of Turkology from the rostrum of the Congress. The active participation of the university's leaders and teaching staff in the organizing committee and scientific activities of the Congress confirms the important role of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University in the formation of scientific thought in Turkology. In his speech, the rector emphasized that the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev “On the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress” dated October 22, 2025 is an important indicator of the state policy implemented in this direction.
Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Firudin Gurbanov noted in his speech that the Decree “On the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress” signed by the head of state further strengthens the historical and scientific significance of the Congress, provides state support for the development of Turkology science, the preservation and promotion of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Turkic peoples, and at the same time ensures that the legacy of the Congress is relevant and significant in the modern scientific environment. The Deputy Minister, who stated that the national language is facing new pressure mechanisms as a result of globalization, the rapid development of information technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the influence of mass communication media, stated that initiatives to protect the security of our language are necessary in this direction. F. Gurbanov noted that extensive measures have been implemented in accordance with the Order of President Ilham Aliyev “On the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress” and stated that the Ministry of Science and Education also intends to symbolically award scholarships to 100 students on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Congress within the framework of the relevant Action Plan.
Speaking, the President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, said that the First Turkological Congress was an important stage in the history of scientific thought of the Turkic peoples. He noted that this prestigious scientific meeting held in Baku in 1926 was of particular importance in terms of the preservation of the common language, alphabet, national and cultural values, and the systematic development of the science of Turkology. The academician emphasized that the mother tongue is one of the main values that keep alive the historical memory of the people, national identity and spiritual heritage. The academician said that there were 131 participants in the First Turkological Congress, 126 of whom later became victims of repression. The intellectual scale of the problems they raised at the congress determined the main directions of Turkology.
Anar Isgandarov, Chairman of the Science and Education Committee of the Milli Majlis, said that the First Turkological Congress played an important role in the process of national self-awareness of the Turkic peoples and the formation of common cultural values. It was noted that the study of this historical heritage and its transfer to future generations is of particular importance from both a scientific and social perspective.
Turkey's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Birol Akgün, who participated in the international conference, emphasized that the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey was formed on the basis of common history, language, culture and spiritual values, and noted that the First Turkological Congress is one of the important historical events in terms of scientific and cultural integration of the Turkic world, and this legacy still serves to strengthen cooperation between the Turkic peoples today. B. Akgün noted that two years after that congress - in 1928, Turkey switched to the Latin alphabet. The ambassador noted that it is necessary to further strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, and in this regard, the adoption of the decision to celebrate December 15 as World Turkic Language Day at the meeting held within the framework of UNESCO last year is a common success for all of us.
Speaking, Professor Mahira Huseynova, Vice-Rector for International Relations of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, spoke about the work carried out to expand the university's cooperation with higher education and scientific institutions of the Turkic world, and noted that such international scientific platforms make a significant contribution to the development of academic relations.
Anar Naghiyev, rector of Baku Slavic University, noted that the First Turkological Congress played an important role in the development of the humanities and in directing research in the field of language and literature. He emphasized that the preservation and scientific promotion of the mother tongue is one of the main tasks of higher education institutions.
Nadir Mammadli, director of the Nasimi Institute of Linguistics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, spoke about the important role of the First Turkological Congress in the development of Azerbaijani linguistics. He drew attention to the fact that the scientific study of the mother tongue, the preservation of linguistic heritage and its transmission to new generations are among the urgent issues.
The Director of the Scientific Research Institute of Aerospace Informatics of the Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency, the Azerbaijani representative of the International Academy of Sciences for Turkic World Studies, Professor Elchin Igenderzade, Professor Selcuk Ural of the Caucasus University of Turkey, Azamat Akbarov, Vice-Rector of the Asian International University of Uzbekistan, and Professor Adil Babayev of the Azerbaijan University of Languages, noted in their speeches that the study of Turkic languages, comparative research, and the development of common scientific traditions are one of the main directions of modern Turkology.
After the official opening ceremony, the conference continued its work with section meetings.