Today, on February 19, the General Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan was held.

The event was attended by the Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Issues of the Presidential Administration Farah Aliyeva, as well as members of the Presidium of ANAS and full members of the Academy.

President of ANAS, academician Ramiz Mehdiyev spoke at the meeting.He noted that on February 14, at a meeting of the Presidium, he announced his resignation from his post due to age and addressed the head of state Ilham Aliyev on this issue: “Sending an appeal to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, I express my deep gratitude for the high trust, attention and care shown to me during my many years of work as head of the Administration under the leadership of the head of our state and as President of the Academy.

I would like to mention one important issue. To lead a state in such a complex region requires great perseverance, talent, strong will, and high political skills. The Azerbaijani people are very happy that they have a leader who combines all these high qualities. With a feeling of deep gratitude, I am obliged to say that both Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and respected President Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated my work.

I will devote my future life, knowledge and experience to the further development and strengthening of the independent Azerbaijani state under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as scientific activities.”

In his speech, Ramiz Mehdiyev expressed hope for a more active and close participation of the Academy in increasing the power of our state: “As the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev stated at the time, the Academy must be preserved and developed further.”

At the end of his speech, the President of the Academy thanked the members of the Presidium, the collectives of research institutes, the staff of the apparatus who worked with him for two years and four months.

Then, in accordance with the Charter, an open vote was held on the dismissal of Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev from the post of president of the Academy. Following the results of the vote, Ramiz Mehdiyev's appeal was adopted.

After the decision was made in accordance with Article 9.6 of the Charter, the First Vice-President, academician Arif Hashimov, was entrusted with the functions of the President of the Academy.