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"Generally, Azerbaijan is not well known in Turkey—neither South Azerbaijan nor North Azerbaijan. We strongly wish for interest in Azerbaijan to grow in Turkey. However, to increase this interest, we also have to take action," says Nasib Nasibli, a lecturer at Ankara University.
In an interview with Voice of America, the historian spoke about his recently published book in Turkey, titled The Issues of South and North Azerbaijan.
According to Nasib Nasibli, the book's title is not only relevant to its content but also carries symbolic significance.
"For me, it was important to include both 'South' and 'North' in the title. At one time, our friends persistently demanded that representatives of North Azerbaijan explicitly mention whether they were referring to the northern or southern part when speaking about Azerbaijan. I consider this a valid demand. When we say 'North Azerbaijan,' it naturally raises the question: then, there must also be a South Azerbaijan."
The historian emphasizes that self-awareness and national identity are among the most sensitive issues for Azerbaijan, and these topics are given significant attention in the book.
The Ankara University lecturer states that his new book serves as a resource for students and, more broadly, for those in Turkey interested in Iran.
"I teach a course at Ankara University called Iran and the Turks. The materials in this book are used in our classes. Of course, this book can be a valuable resource not only for students but also for the general public interested in Iranian Turkic identity and Iran in general," Nasibli says.
The former Azerbaijani ambassador to Iran adds: "In general, Azerbaijan is not well known in Turkey… Books are published, but there are very few books introducing Azerbaijan… This should be considered one of the major problems of the national movement… We strongly wish for interest in Azerbaijan to increase in Turkey, but to achieve this, we must take action ourselves."
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Tarixçi alim Nəsib Nəsiblinin yeni kitabı çapdan çıxıb