Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Director of the Institute of Folklore of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Hikmat Guliyev made a presentation during the panel session entitled “Historical Memory and National Identity” at the 1^st International Scientific Conference on “Return to Western Azerbaijan: As a New Stage of the National Idea” jointly organized by Baku State University and the Western Azerbaijan Community.

In his speech H.Guliyev mentioned that a national idea was not merely a concept expressing political objectives, rather, it was a model of thought that encompassed the historical memory, spiritual values and strategic aspirations for the future. According to his thought, a new phase in Azerbaijan’s national consciousness began following the historic Victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War. He recalled that on December 24, 2022, during a meeting with a group of intellectuals originating from Western Azerbaijan, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, declared the idea of Return to Western Azerbaijan as a new national idea.

The speaker noted that the idea of Return to Western Azerbaijan extends beyond political or geographical dimensions.

Guliyev further noted that the idea of Return to Western Azerbaijan was not merely a call to action or a slogan, but a strategic concept grounded in solid scientific, historical and cultural foundations. In this regard, he highlighted the critical importance of ensuring its comprehensive academic and scientific substantiation.

He also noted that research on Western Azerbaijan was gradually emerging as an independent field of academic study. Within the framework of cooperation with the leading higher education and research institutions of the country, the Institute of Folklore was conducting joint research projects examining the history, language, toponymy, ethnocultural characteristics and folklore heritage of Western Azerbaijan from various perspectives. It was also mentioned that the preservation of historical memory had acquired new significance in the era of digital transformation, efforts were also underway to systematize information related to Western Azerbaijan through electronic resources.

In conclusion, it was mentioned that the sustainability of the idea of Return to Western Azerbaijan depended directly on preserving it within the collective cultural memory, continually revitalizing its relevance and transmitting it to future generations. In this context, folklore served not only as one of the principal resources of humanitarian return, but also as a key factor in shaping the moral and cultural foundations of the Return to Western Azerbaijan.