The II Republican Scientific-Practical Conference on the topic “Western Azerbaijan Folklore: Problems and Prospects” was held in Baku, jointly organized by the Institute of Folklore of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and Western Azerbaijan Community. Director of the Institute of Folklore of ANAS, Doctor of Sciences in Philology Hikmat Guliyev mentioned in his speech that Western Azerbaijan folklore had great potential in the scientific provision of strategic goals in this field. Noting that folklore was one of the main sources of the national, historical and genetic memory of the people, the scientist paid special attention to the importance of historical memory in the study of the cultural heritage of Western Azerbaijan.

Hikmat Guliyev recalled President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with a group of intellectuals from Western Azerbaijan on his birthday three years ago. He noted that President’s speech at that meeting defined the main directions of Western Azerbaijan policy. The scientist especially drew attention to the issue of “historical memory” mentioned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, noting that that factor was of great importance in the return to Western Azerbaijan.

In his speech Hikmat Guliyev also recalled President Ilham Aliev’s speech at the 80^th anniversary of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences on the 3^rd of November of this year.

At the end of his speech Hikmat Guliyev mentioned that the conference, about 106 reports would be presented, would play an important platform in terms of studying, protecting and researching the cultural heritage of Western Azerbaijan, as well as expanding cooperation among the scientific and educational institutions.