London, September 28, AZERTAC

Head of Nizami Ganjavi Scientific Centre at the University of Oxford on behalf of Azerbaijan professor Nargiz Pashayeva and head of Nizami Ganjavi Scientific Centre on behalf of UK, Professor of Islamic History at Oxford and New York universities Robert Hoyland and Professor at Exeter University Robert Gleave have held a working meeting to discuss the preparations for the official presentation of a new foundation - The British Foundation for the Study of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.

Professor Nargiz Pashayeva and Professor Robert Hoyland proposed establishing the British Foundation for the Study of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus at a special event held at the House of Lords on May 25 this year, and the Foundation's Board of Trustees and chairperson were determined.

Professor Robert Gleave is one of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Other members include Professor at Oxford and New York universities Robert Hoyland, Professor at the University of St Andrews Andrew Peacock, political figure, Liberal MP who held the seat for 30 years Lord Malcolm Bruce and the Foundation's chairperson Nargiz Pashayeva.

Professor Robert Gleave's research and teaching focus on the history of Islamic law, particularly in the areas of legal theory thought and law and the justifications of violence in Islamic thought. He welcomes applications from research students in these areas.

He is currently the principal investigator on the University of Exeter ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC-IAA). The aim of the ESRC-IAA is to facilitate academics working with external partners across the social sciences.

Professor Robert Hoyland and Nargiz Pashayeva thanked Professor Gleave for his membership in the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.

Professor Hoyland noted that the Nizami Ganjavi Centre was established in 2013 at the initiative of Nargiz Pashayeva. He underlined that the Centre was the first and a unique research organization studying Azerbaijan. Taking into account the increasing scientific interest in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region across the UK, Nargiz Pashayeva held regular consultations with a number of British scientists and politics.

Professor Nargiz Pashayeva noted that the establishment of the British Foundation was a cultural and historical necessity. She described this landmark event as contribution to the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

On the second half of the day the participants discussed translation work which was included in the scientific-curriculum of the Nizami Ganjavi Centre at the University of Oxford. The Centre plans to publish "The great Azerbaijani poet Nizami" book by Y. Bertels whose English version will be presented at Lord Leighton's House Museum. The scientific editor and author of the preface of the book is Edmund Herzig, Professor of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford.

On behalf of Azerbaijan Elchin Afandiyev is the author of preface. It was translated into English at the University of Oxford.

Orkhan Ismayilov

Special Correspondent