On April 9, Sumgayit State University (SSU) held a conference on the topic “Young Ambassadors from Sumgayit: Return to Western Azerbaijan”. The conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Education Firudin Gurbanov, Head of the Sumgayit City Executive Power Zakir Farajov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western Azerbaijan Community Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Western Azerbaijan Community Ahliman Amiraslanov, members of the Western Azerbaijan Community, deputies of the Milli Majlis, public representatives, the leadership of Sumgayit State University, faculty and students.

First, SSU Acting Rector, Professor Aminaga Sadigov, and guests laid flowers in front of the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the lobby of the university. Then, a viewing of an art exhibition dedicated to Western Azerbaijan was held. During the conference, which continued in the assembly hall, the dear memories of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs who gave their lives for the Motherland were commemorated with a minute of silence, and the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

Opening the conference with an introductory speech, acting rector of Sumgayit State University, corresponding member of ANAS, professor Aminaga Sadigov greeted the conference participants on behalf of the SSU staff and noted that it was a commendable event to hold the conference on the topic “Young ambassadors from Sumgayit: Return to Western Azerbaijan” at SSU. He expressed his gratitude to all partners involved in organizing the conference. He expressed his confidence that the conference would make a significant contribution to the implementation of the “Concept of Return to Western Azerbaijan”, one of the important directions of our national ideology, which is implemented based on the ideas of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and under the direct leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. A.Sadigov noted that the “Concept of Return to Western Azerbaijan” set a number of tasks for SSU, like other educational institutions, and that these tasks were being consistently fulfilled. He emphasized the importance of historical memory in educating the younger generation in a spirit of patriotism and wished the conference success.

Deputy Minister of Science and Education Firudin Gurbanov, who participated in the conference, noted that important work has been carried out in the direction of studying and teaching the history, culture, customs and traditions of Western Azerbaijan. He noted that holding information sessions on the return of Western azerbaijanis to their historical lands in educational institutions in the country is very important and the main goal is to convey the historical realities of Western Azerbaijan to future generations. Looking back at history, the Deputy

Minister spoke about the attention and care of our compatriots expelled from their native lands by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, the role of youth in the implementation of the "Concept of Return to Western Azerbaijan", and gave his recommendations to the youth.

The Chairman of the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis, the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the West Azerbaijan Community, academician Ahliman Amiraslanov touched upon the importance of the conference and emphasized the importance of providing students with extensive information about the history of deportation of Azerbaijanis.

Member of the Milli Majlis Mehriban Valiyeva spoke about the activities of young people in the socio-political, socio-cultural spheres and their civic position within the framework of the conference "Young Ambassadors from Sumgayit: Return to Western Azerbaijan". She called on young people to study historical truths in depth and be active in conveying truths to the world in this direction.

A video clip reflecting the speeches of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev regarding Western Azerbaijan and national ideological goals was shown at the conference.

The speeches of Ayan Yusifzadeh, daughter of martyr Colonel Vugar Yusifov, on “The role of youth in historical processes”, Hasrat Suleymanov, a third-year student of Sumgayit State University, on “Western Azerbaijan in the blood memory”, and Gulchin Gasimova, a young teacher of the university, on “The right of return of Western Azerbaijanis” were listened to. Also, Muhammad Adnan Gorgaje, a pakistani student of the university, made a speech and reminded that his country always supports Azerbaijan and noted that friendly relations between the two countries will always develop.

Participating in the panel discussion, Member of Milli Majlis Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western Azerbaijan Community, spoke on the topics of “Activity of the West Azerbaijan Community, its next goals”, Member of Milli Majlis Hikmet Babaoglu, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western Azerbaijan Community, “Ensuring the right of return to the historical lands of West Azerbaijan within the framework of international law”, Member of Milli Majlis Malahat Ibrahimgizi, Chairman of the Women"s Council of the Western Azerbaijan Community, “The role of women in the Concept of Return to Western Azerbaijan”, Chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee of the Milli Majlis, Chairman of the Youth Council of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Shahin Ismayilov, “The role of youth in the process of return to Western Azerbaijan”, and member of the Board of Directors of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Professor Mahira Naghigizi, “What effects has the destruction of cultural and religious monuments in Western Azerbaijan had on our history and cultural heritage?” and answered the questions of the youth.

Speaking at the end of the conference, the head of the Sumgayit city executive power, Zakir Farajov greeted the guests and participants. He spoke about the work done by the Western Azerbaijan Community in our country, including Sumgayit, towards the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their native lands. He noted that the community has been carrying out great work in a short period of time to protect the

rights of azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of present-day armenia. He expressed his belief that our youth will be at the forefront of the propaganda and promotion of national ideological work in the year when Sumgayit was declared the "Youth Capital", and spoke about their rights and duties. The conference continued with literary and artistic compositions.