On December 25, prominent scientist, historian-orientalist with “Shohrat” order, director of National Museum of Azerbaijan History, active member of ANAS Naila Velikhanli Mammadali gizi is 75 years old.

Naila Velikhanli was born in Baku city, in 1940. In 1963 Naila Velikhanli graduated from the Arabic Department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Azerbaijan State University, post-graduate education of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences, in 1968 defended her PhD thesis, and in 1994 - doctoral thesis , elected a corresponding member of ANAS in 2001, and active member in 2007.

Starting out as an assistant at the Institute of Oriental Studies in 1963-1992, Naila Velikhanli was appointed a leading researcher at the Institute of History in 1992-1998 and vice-president of ANAS in 2013-2007. Since 1998 she is the director of the National Museum of Azerbaijan History.

Naila Velikhanli has special merits in the field of Oriental studies domestically. She has clarified some issues of sources of the medieval history of Azerbaijan, the situation in the region as part of the Arab Caliphate, in the socio-economic relations in matters of historical geography. These scientific works of the scientist as "Arab geographers – travelers of the IX-XII centuries about Azerbaijan "," Ibn Hordadbey. The Book of ways and countries (research, translated from Arabic, comment, indexes and maps) "(in Russian)," the Arab Caliphate and Azerbaijan”, “Statehood in Azerbaijan and its symbols ", "Nakhchivan - from the Arabs to the Mongolians (until VII-XII centuries.) "," National Museum of History, Azerbaijan - 95 "(on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of ANAS)," Nakhchivan in the history and historiography of the VII-XII centuries” etc. have gained great success in the scientific community environment.

A prominent researcher, linking about 30 years her fate with the National Museum of Azerbaijan History she is also a scientific and administrative organizer. In the short time she has managed to achieve a radical change in the activity of the museum. Under her leadership, the museum and the exhibits were stored, placed in accordance with their characteristics, in the laboratory of the museum rebuilt a number of archaeological and ethnographic exhibits of paintings, as well as the museum purchased the appropriate equipment to resume exposure. For the first time in the history of the museum it was organized by the scientific stamp catalogs and books, albums, and the restored edition of proceedings.

N.Velikhanly also directly involved in public works. She is a member of the Commission on the Toponymy of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, member of the editorial board of the Encyclopedia of Azerbaijan, member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of History and chief editor of "News of ANAS" (series of social sciences) and the book "The National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan - 2015 ".

Academician’s merits were highly appreciated by the state. She was awarded the medal "For valiant work" and the order "Shohrat" and was awarded the title "Honored Worker of Science."

Academician Naila Velikhanli successfully represented Azerbaijan historiography in Ankara, Berlin, Budapest, France, Norway, China, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy and Moscow.

The merits of active member of ANAS Naila Velikhanli also invaluable in the training of highly qualified scientists in history. She supervised to 20 doctor's and PhD theses.

Congratulations to the outstanding scientist on her 75th birthday and wish her every success in future activities.