Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL), acting member of ANAS, honored scientist Kamal Abdulla met with American students. Welcoming the American students who came to our country to study the Azerbaijani language in the US Department of State’s Important Language Scholarship Program, the rector said that they were pleased to see them at the University. Highly appreciating foreign students learning the Azerbaijani languages, the rector said that language can not be studied away from country culture. Therefore, he advised academic American students to study the Azerbaijani language as well as components of Azerbaijani culture. According to the rector, since the X century the Azerbaijani language and culture have been spread in a wide geographical area and attracted the attention of neighbors and European people. At that time, the Azerbaijani language had a strong position in the region and popular epic monuments such as “Kitabi Dede Gorgud” appeared in that language. Kamal Abdulla later shared with American students the views on “Azerbaijan firsts” reflecting the events taking place in the cultural and economic life of our country in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Spoke about the publication of the first newspaper “Ekinchi” in the Muslim East, the first drama by Mirza Fatali Akhundov, the staging of the first opera “Leyli and Majnun”, the opening of the university in Azerbaijan during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, proclaiming its independence in 1918. He added that these firsts in the cultural, social and economic life of Azerbaijan were the cultural renaissance of our country in the first half of the 20^th century since the second half of the 19^th century.

Kamal Abdulla also gave detailed information about the political activity of national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev. The rector characterized Heydar Aliyev’s coming to political power in Azerbaijan as a turning point in the fate of the Azerbaijani people. “Great leader Heydar Aliyev was a man who loved his people with all his heart, who appreciated its history and culture. He used all political means to promote the Azerbaijani language, culture and traditions in the world during the first period of his rule. Works of Nizami, Fuzuli, Nasimi, various Azerbaijani writers and poets, composers, cultural figures, their creativity were started to be analyzed. Azerbaijani society had a chance to see its past. Naturally, it would not be possible within the framework of the soviet regime that the great leader wanted to do for Azerbaijan. But we witnessed the devotion of Heydar Aliyev to the people in the events of January 20. Imagine being removed from all the posts, being introduced as an ordinary citizen Heydar Aliyev came to Moscow with his family members to express his attitude to Communist Party and refused his membership. This was a very daring step and the first call for the world after the Soviet army’s massacre in Baku. After the fall of the Soviet power, Azerbaijan declared its independence. At that time, the greatest achievement of the society was the invitation of the great leader from Nakhchivan to the Azerbaijani government. From now on, Azerbaijan started to make confident steps in the economic, political and cultural spheres”.

Rector Kamal Abdulla also spoke about President Ilham Aliyev’s political activities and services. He noted that Ilham Aliyev put Azerbaijan on the path of broad political, social, economic and military development: “Today Azerbaijan is one of the most developed countries in the region and is the first country in many respects. One of the greatest services of President Ilham Aliyev is to bring the values of our people back to our people and to the world again. One of the great things he did for this is the fact is bringing Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism to the attention of the whole world. Following the announcement of 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism, multiculturalism became our state policy due to the great attention of our people. This is a very brave step on the eve of collapse of multiculturalism in Europe”.

Academician Kamala Abdulla spoke about the establishment and functioning of the Baku International Center of Multiculturalism at the end of his speech. He stressed that this center has done much to develop multiculturalism not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the world. “The Baku International Multiculturalism Center hosts a multicultural summer school twice a year, so that young people from many countries around the world attend this summer school. Baku International Center of Multiculturalism teaches the “Azerbaijan Multiculturalism” at universities in America, Europe, Middle East and Far East. Students at these universities are also informed about Azerbaijan’s multiculturalism, including its history, language, culture, literature, psychology and its present values.

At the end rector Kamal Abdulla wished success to American students.