Azerbaijan Writers' Union celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, Azernews reports.
The prerequisites for the creation of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union appeared in 1923, when there was a need to unite all Azerbaijani writers within a single organization.
As a result, a group of writers formed the İldırım United Organization of Turkic Publicists and Poets.
Later, in 1925, another organization known as "Qızıl qələmlər" (Golden Pens) was founded uniting most writers and regularly conducting literary gathering events.
Established in 1934, Azerbaijan Writers' Union included 93 members upon its registration.
A newspaper "Ədəbiyyat qəzeti" (Literature Newspaper) started operating with the establishment of the union.
Today Azerbaijan Writers' Union brings together members who write and publish in Azerbaijani, Russian, Lezgi, Talysh, Tat and other languages. The Writers' Union is currently chaired by Anar Rzayev.
The main goal of the organization is practical support for the literary and artistic activities of young writers, promotion of Azerbaijani literature both within the country and abroad, uniting creative Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries around national literature, as well as strengthening the connection between writers and the readership.
The Writers' Union anniversary has been solemnly celebrated in the International Mugham Center. The National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played at the beginning of the ceremony.
Renowned writers from Azerbaijan and abroad commemorated the memory of the Azerbaijani martyrs with a minute's silence.
Secretary of Azerbaijan Writers' Union poet, translator Selim Babullaoglu welcomed the guests of the event.
The poet underlined the unique role of the Writers' Union in Azerbaijan's history of the 20th century and called the anniversary of the institution held for the first time in the whole of Azerbaijan a historic event.
Noting that National Leader Heydar Aliyev highly appreciated the activities of Azerbaijan Writers' Union, Salim Babullaoglu stressed that the organization fulfilled the mission set before it with great success.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Writers' Union, People's Writer Anar Rzayev also addressed the event.
In his speech, Anar Rzayev remembered the victims of 1937's repression and spoke about their fates.
In his speech, he emphasized the great role of writers and poets in the survival and promotion of the Azerbaijani language during the colonial period.
He underlined that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pays special attention to Azerbaijani culture and literature.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Writers' Union noted that the guests from various Turkish countries visited Azerbaijan in connection with the organization's anniversary.
He also shared with his impression of the visit to Shusha during the past three days.
Anar Rzayev named the liberation of Shusha city and the entire Garabagh region a great historical event.
President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli reviewed the path taken by Azerbaijan Writers' Union, hailing the organization's exceptional services in the development of literature and literary studies in the country, as well as in raising the generation of writers.
Isa Habibbayli underlined that People's Writer Anar brought the Writers' Union to a new stage in its activities, stood on the guard of Azerbaijani literature, and also did a major work in the formation of the new generation of the national poets and writers. He also hailed the close partnership between the Writers' Union and National Academy of Sciences.
Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov, on behalf of the Culture Minister Adil Karimli, congratulated the writers and poets on the occasion of their 90th anniversary and conveyed their good wishes.
The deputy minister highly appreciated the participation of guests from Turkish countries in terms of the development of literary and cultural relations.
First Secretary of Azerbaijan Writers' Union, People's Writer Chingiz Abdullayev spoke about the injustices faced by prominent personalities who have been the chairman of the union until now. He also honored the memory of 11 writers-poets whose children were martyred in the First Garabagh War.
President of the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktotı Raimkulova, former TURKSOY Secretary-General Dusen Kaseinov, Turkish poet Ataol Behramoğlu, chairman of Public Association of owners of scientific and literary works of Turkiye (ILESAM) Mehmet Nuri Parmaksız, editor-in-chief of the magazine "Türk Ədəbiyyatı" İmdat Avşar, Kyrgyz poet Joldasbek Monoldorov, Vice-Chairman of the Uzbekistan Writers' Union Minhojiddin Mirzo, chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union' Council of Elders, People's Poet Nariman Hasanzade, Academician Rafael Huseynov, director of the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature, People's Poet Sabir Rustamkhanli, Writer Elchin Huseynbayli, Secretary of the Azerbaijan National Museum and Secretary Writer of Azer
