(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 31. December 31 is
the International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis.
On Dec. 6, 1991, at a meeting of the Supreme Assembly of
Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, chaired by Heydar
Aliyev, it was decided to establish the International Solidarity
Day of Azerbaijanis. In order to adopt a legislative act in this
regard, the Supreme Assembly sent an appeal to the country's
parliament - the Supreme Council.
On Dec. 25, Azerbaijan's Supreme Council, taking into account
the appeal, adopted a law declaring December 31 as the
International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis.
In 1993, December 31 was announced as the World Azerbaijanis
Solidarity Day in accordance with the presidential decree.
On Nov. 9-10, 2001, the First Congress of World Azerbaijanis was
held in Baku. The congress had an impact on strengthening the
national identity of our compatriots, increasing the organization
and activity of Azerbaijani communities in various countries. This
was a new movement in socio-political life of the country, a new
direction of state policy.
The establishment, in accordance with the Decree of the
President of Azerbaijan dated July 5, 2002, of the State Committee
for Work with the Azerbaijanis Living in Foreign Countries, the
adoption, on Dec. 27 of the same year, of the Law“On a state
policy regarding the Azerbaijanis living abroad” further stepped up
the process of organizational development of world
Azerbaijanis.
Despite his busy and tense schedule, during his visits to
foreign countries, Heydar Aliyev always met with Azerbaijanis
living there, inquired about their problems and concerns, and
provided his recommendations.
President Ilham Aliyev successfully continues the work of the
great leader in this field. The next representative forum, held
March 16 in Baku in accordance with the order of the head of state
“On holding the 2nd Congress of World Azerbaijanis” on Feb. 8,
2006, became a new step in turning the Azerbaijani diaspora living
abroad into a lobby and played an important role in bringing
realities about Azerbaijan to the world community.
The First Forum of leaders of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora
organizations, held in Baku March 9, 2007, became an important
event for all Turkic-speaking peoples and went down in history as
vivid evidence of the importance Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
is attaching to the unity of the Turkic world.
Today, the process of consolidating Azerbaijani diaspora is even
more rapid. A meeting of the Coordination Council held at the First
Congress of World Azerbaijanis Dec. 18, 2008 in Baku, the adoption
of the“World Azerbaijanis Charter” at the meeting increased unity
and organization, strengthened ties with the historical Motherland,
and reaffirmed that independent Azerbaijan is a center of
attraction for the world Azerbaijanis.