National Atlas to make important contribution to Karabakh conflict’s fair resolution
By Trend
Since ancient times, tribes and nations sought to explore the
territories they inhabited, the people around them, and reflect the
obtained information and knowledge in various forms, passed them on
to each other, said Ali Hasanov, Head of the public and political
issues department of Azerbaijani presidential administration.
He made the remarks at the presentation of The National Atlas of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the map titled ‘South Caucasus:
1903’, jointly organized by the State Committee for Land and
Cartography and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences on
February 2.
Hasanov said among the forms of reflecting the obtained information
and knowledge, cartographic images and materials are used, which
are considered to be universal for people speaking different
languages. He said specialist believe cartography emerged before
writing.
“This area improves from year to year, and its importance for the
state and society is increasing,” he said. “Azerbaijani scientists
and specialists have made great achievements in the progress of the
national cartography culture.”
“Back in the Soviet period, the physical, geographical, geological,
political and administrative maps of the country were prepared.
However, after Azerbaijan’s gaining its independence, the
scientific-practical and economic significance of this area
increased.”
Hasanov also noted that the use of maps and atlases by the Armenian
invaders as a weapon against Azerbaijan shows the importance of
this issue.
“Highly appreciating the importance and possibilities of influence
of the cartography materials in the state’s achieving its
objectives, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev paid special
attention to the development of this area,” he said.
“International experience shows that the national atlases are
prepared only by independent states. Today, about half of nearly
200 countries in the world don’t have atlases. Western countries
started this process back in the mid 70's-90's,” he added.
Hasanov added that among the post-Soviet states, Azerbaijan is the
fifth country to publish a national atlas, following Russia,
Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
“Of course, the preparation of the national atlas is the result of
historical achievements presented to us by the state independence,”
Hasanov said. “This testifies to a high intellectual potential of
Azerbaijani people. This is also the result of the progress
recently achieved in the social-economic sphere."
He said that the atlas will be important for the society in terms
of a number of aspects.
"First, it is enlightening for citizens, particularly, for the
younger generation,” Hasanov said. “So, one will be able to get
accurate information and reliable knowledge about the history,
culture, economy, natural resources of Azerbaijan and observe every
corner of our country. On the other hand, young people and
teenagers, getting the education, will be able to work with such
manuals. This will contribute to expanding their world view and
raising the intellectual level."
“The atlas will also make an important contribution to the
protection of national interests of Azerbaijan, fair settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Hasanov said.
“While preparing various fake maps for many years, Armenia and the
Armenian diaspora use them against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani
people.”
“Publishing of the National Atlas of Azerbaijan, its distribution
in foreign countries and international organizations, as well as
its delivery to the well-known libraries will create additional
opportunities to expose Armenian lie related to the history and
geography of the region, the essence of the current processes,"
Hasanov said.
Hasanov said that the maps are also very useful in terms of getting
the information about refugees and internally displaced persons as
a result of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan in 1988-1993,
local conflicts, ethnic cleansing and occupied territories.
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