 During its first year, the Academy numbered 15 members; Uzeyir Hajibeyov and Samad Vurgun among them.In accord with presidential decree (May 15, 2001), the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences was granted the status of "National Academy of Sciences" (ANAS), after 2 years ANAS was given the status of supreme state body carrying out the scientific and scientific-technical policy of Azerbaijan.Its Charter was granted the state document.