BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. A conference titled “Ancient Texts and Classical Sources Expose Armenian Fabrications and Fictions, or On Ancient Turan and Proto-Turkic Tribes in the Regions of Asia Minor and Their Connections to the Caucasus” was held in Baku to mark World Book and Copyright Day, Trend reports.
The conference was attended by Kamran Imanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Intellectual Property Agency; Sabina Aliyeva, Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education; Isa Habibbayli, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (NASA); Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community; and Karim Shukururov from the A. Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of NASA.
Speaking at the event, Kamran Imanov, Chairman of the Board of the Intellectual Property Agency, stated that claims based on mythological notions must be left in the past.
He noted that the peace proposal from Azerbaijan, the victorious state, to Armenia, which has been under the influence of mythological notions for decades, was initialed in Washington, and our country is taking practical steps in this regard.
According to Imanov, the purpose of the event is to draw attention to intellectual property, particularly books and copyright, to support creativity, to promote a culture of intellectual property, and, at the same time, to expose Armenian fabrications and falsehoods.
"We hope that, as a result, the idea of ‘vast lands and territorial claims against neighbors’—which shapes Hayk-Armenian mythology—will become a thing of the past, that approaches attributing ‘naturalness’ and ‘legitimacy’ to the appropriation of neighbors' cultural heritage will disappear, and that the ideological views of Armenian politicians, government and church officials, scholars, and those shaping public opinion will change," he added.
Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, in turn, noted that objectivity and compliance with international law are important in the protection of intellectual property.
She noted that the proper analysis of historical sources and their evaluation based on objective scientific methodology are among the fundamental principles of the social sciences. Such an approach contributes to the deepening of scientific discourse and knowledge.
According to the ombudsman, historical and cultural heritage is one of the key factors shaping a nation’s identity, and its protection is a matter of international law.
"Unfortunately, as a result of the events unfolding in the region, our people have been subjected to violence and mass displacement. The military conflicts that have taken place since the end of the last century have led to large-scale humanitarian crises. During the occupation, Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage sites suffered serious damage.
These facts raise serious concerns not only from the perspective of preserving cultural heritage but also in terms of universal human values. In these territories, there are also issues related to the appropriation of elements of intangible cultural heritage. Their objective assessment must be conducted based on a scientific approach and within the framework of international law.
One of the main problems affecting the effectiveness of the restoration and development process is the presence of landmines in these territories.
Protecting the rights of intellectual property holders is one of the priorities of our work as Ombudsman. Violations of these rights have a negative impact on the development of society. We regularly bring to the attention of international organizations and ombudsmen in other countries information about acts of vandalism committed by Armenians against Islamic culture, and we emphasize the need to view these acts as moral terrorism.
“In the field of intellectual property rights protection, objectivity, a scientific approach, and adherence to the principles of international law are essential,” she noted.
The conference continued with speeches and presentations.
