At the Central Scientific Library of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, a presentation ceremony was held for the book “Explanatory Dictionary of the Toponyms of Western Zangezur”, authored by poet-publicist, member of the Supervisory Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community, and Member of the Milli Majlis, Musa Urud.

   Speaking at the event, Musa Urud stated that the publication is devoted to the comprehensive and systematic study of the place names of the Western Zangezur region, which is considered one of the ancient centers of Azerbaijan’s culture and statehood. According to him, the book examines the history, etymology, and cultural-ethnographic features of the region’s toponyms from ancient times to the present day. The research is based on various historical sources, archival documents, cameral descriptions, scientific literature and maps, as well as information provided by local residents. The author also noted that the publication presents a chronology of the process of deliberate changes and Armenization of toponyms in Armenia starting from the 1930s.

    In his speech, the President of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbeyli, emphasized that such publications are of great importance in enriching the Azerbaijani language and scientific terminology, as well as in the systematic study of national history and toponymic heritage.

   Acting Director of the Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor Zaur Imrani, spoke about the scientific significance of the book. He noted that the “Explanatory Dictionary of the Toponyms of Western Zangezur” is not only a publication explaining the meanings of toponyms, but also an important scientific source reflecting the historical geography of the region, its ethno-cultural environment, and the history of settlement. According to him, the materials collected in the book are based on sources from different historical periods and therefore serve as a reliable encyclopedic base for researchers.

     Zaur Imrani emphasized that the toponyms included in the publication were systematically analyzed according to their origin, semantic content, and historical and geographical characteristics. This makes it possible to obtain valuable information about the ancient settlements of the region, the history of their formation, and the origin of their names. The archival materials used in the book, especially the map of Zangezur dating back to 1903, clearly demonstrate the historical and geographical picture of the region. That map provides important factual information about the region’s ancient administrative division, the location of settlements, and the widespread presence of Azerbaijani toponyms. According to the scholar, such sources are of great importance as significant scientific evidence showing that Zangezur is an integral part of Azerbaijan’s historical geographical space.

    It should be noted that the 316-page publication was scientifically edited by Isa Habibbeyli. The reviewers are Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Hikmet Mammadov; PhD in Philology Aziz Alakbarli; and PhD in Geographical Sciences Mahira Abbasova. The book is the seventh research work by Musa Urud dedicated to the history of Zangezur. The publication is intended for scholars, researchers, students, and a wide audience interested in the region’s history, toponymy, and cultural-ethnic characteristics.