Established in 1980 by the Senate of France, the Paris-headquartered European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (EASAL), elected Azerbaijani People’s Writer Afaq Masud a Full Member at its recent anniversary session.

Having greeted Secretary General of the Academy Dr Nicole Lemaire d’Agaggio, a modern French artist and notable public figure, and participants to the session, Masud spoke about the indispensable role of the EASAL in promoting scientific and literary relations with many parts of the world and contributing to universal values. “Located at the crossroads of East and West and combining the spirit and pain of the East with the modernity of the West for centuries, Azerbaijan can give the world literature new creative people with a renewed sense and a different way of thinking,” she said.

Dear Madame Nicole Lemaire d’Agaggio,

Dear friends, dear colleagues,

First of all, I want to express my deepest appreciation for the honour of the admission to membership in the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (EASAL) that has an indispensable role in promoting scientific and literary relations with many parts of the world and contributing to universal values, culture, science and literature.

As a representative of Azerbaijani literature that has created deeply-rooted literary traditions and fostered great poets and Sufi mystics like Nizami, Khagani, Nasimi, Fizuli and Khatai whose works could be seen to be masterpieces all over the world, I am proud to represent my country in such a high-distinguished assembly. The list of Azerbaijan’s geniuses bestowed upon the world could be endless. Located at the crossroads of East and West and combining the spirit and pain of the East with the modernity of the West for centuries, Azerbaijan is ready to give the world literature new creative people with a renewed sense and a different way of thinking. I think that with the help of EASAL, Azerbaijani literature will find recognition and take its worthy place in the treasury of world culture.

There is such a magnificent tale The Ugly Duckling by great Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, describing the life of a little swan, long and painfully looking for its place in the stockyard, among creatures alien to it, that drove it away from everywhere, because of its dubious appearance, but at the end it grew up and found its white, beautiful flock of swans. I associate this Academy with that flock of beautiful, white swans, who united all the small members of their flock lost in different parts of the world.

Today I feel the joy of the swan that has reunited with its flock!

May it [this reunion] forever be! Let it have high safe flights and victories!

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