A conference titled “The beginning of the Path to Victory – September 27, 2020”, dedicated to September 27 – Remembrance Day, was held in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş. The event was organized through the joint cooperation of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Federation of Türkiye–Azerbaijan Associations (TADEF), and Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University.

Alongside officials, the conference was attended by university leaders, representatives of political parties, active members of the Azerbaijani community, as well as students and faculty members.

The conference, held at the “Nizami Ganjavi” hall of the university’s Yunus Emre Congress Center, began with honoring the cherished memory of the martyrs of the two brotherly countries. This was followed by the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

Participants of the conference watched a video shared by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the occasion of Remembrance Day, as well as a video prepared by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora about the Patriotic War and the Road to Victory.

During the opening ceremony of the event, speeches were delivered by Valeh Hajiyev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, Professor Alptekin Yasim, Rector of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Professor Vasif Gafarov, Member of the Milli Majlis, Akram Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Fund for Support to Azerbaijani Diaspora (FSAD), and Parviz Mammadzadeh, Advisor to the President of the Türkiye–Azerbaijan Associations Federation (TADEF).

The speakers emphasized the importance of such events in conveying Azerbaijan’s historical truths, national interests, and just position to the international community. They also highlighted the significance of promoting the new realities created by the Victory in Karabakh at regional and global levels.

The conference continued with a panel session. The session, moderated by Dr. Marziyya Mammadli, Associate Professor at Sütçü İmam University, featured presentations by Professor Vasif Gafarov, Member of the Milli Majlis, Professor Toghrul Ismayil of Sütçü İmam University, and Professor İbrahim Ethem Atnur of the Turkish National Defence University.

The presentations covered the course, historical significance, and outcomes of the Patriotic War, as well as Azerbaijan’s just position from the perspective of international law and academic analysis. The speakers emphasized the historic importance of the heroism and determination demonstrated by the Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev Victorious Commander-in-Chief. They highlighted September 27 – Remembrance Day as a proud, honorable, and unforgettable date for the Azerbaijani people, and noted that the Victory in Karabakh carries strategic and moral value not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire Turkic world.

At the end of the conference, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Samir Jafarov performed songs dedicated to patriotism and the brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.