(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more Azerbaijanis all over the world celebrate the day of unity and
solidarity on December 31 along with the New Year.
The Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis embodies the
feelings of national unity, love, and respect for the motherland
and honors the national and spiritual values of the Azerbaijani
people. The holiday mainly focuses on awakening the sense of
belonging to their historical homeland for those compatriots living
aboard.
The holiday dates back to December 6, 1991, when at a meeting of
the Supreme Assembly of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic, chaired by national leader Heydar Aliyev, it was decided
to establish the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. Taking
into account the appeal, Azerbaijan's Supreme Council adopted a law
declaring December 31 as the Day of Solidarity of World
Azerbaijanis. This became official in accordance with the
presidential decree in 1993.
On November 9-10, 2001, Baku held the first congress of World
Azerbaijanis, which stipulated a new movement in the country`s
socio-political life, and a new direction of state policy.
The organizational development of Azerbaijanis all over the
world continued, climbing the global ladder with the establishment
of the State Committee for Work with the Azerbaijanis Living in
Foreign Countries and the adoption of the Law“On a state policy
regarding the Azerbaijanis living abroad”.
Further, the country held the second congress of World
Azerbaijanis on February 16, 2006, and a year after that the First
Forum of leaders of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora organizations
was held in Baku on March 9, 2007.
Events of such scale were essential in turning the Azerbaijani
diaspora living abroad into a lobby and played an important role in
bringing realities about Azerbaijan to the world community.
A meeting of the Coordination Council held at the First Congress
of World Azerbaijanis (December 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.
Today the Azerbaijani Diaspora possesses vast opportunities to
represent the culture, wealth, language, history, and traditions of
the Azerbaijani nation. The holiday is celebrated by compatriots in
more than 70 countries around the world.
Azerbaijanis living in different countries play an increasingly
important role in the socio-political, economic, and cultural life
of their countries of residence, and, undoubtedly, their hearts
long for their native lands.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl
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