AMOR unites hearts

The grand opening of the Forum of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia "AMOR - Uniting Hearts" took place in Moscow on October 12. AMOR, which has brought together the most progressive part of the Azerbaijani youth, celebrates its anniversary this year. For 5 years it has been helping young Azerbaijanis realize their potential and contribute to the development of Azerbaijani culture in Russia. The two-day forum was attended by over five hundred delegates, dignitaries and members of the governments and administrations of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan. Before the beginning of the forum an agreement on cooperation between the IDEA company (International Dialogue on Protection of the Environment) headed by Leyla Aliyeva and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) of Russia was signed. As part of the fourth election meeting of AMOR, Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Leyla Aliyeva who was re-elected chairman of the AMOR, Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov, and the head of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky made speeches.

Polad Bulbuloglu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Russia

As a representative of the older generation, one can say as an elder, as a citizen of my country, as an ambassador of my own country, I am happy to see how today's youth confidently self-organizes. In such a conscious, programmatic and competent way it approaches the task of developing the image of our country abroad, and, of course, here in Russia. In this respect, I think that the founding idea of AMOR about uniting Azerbaijani youth living in Russia in order to naturally integrate it into Russian society appears to be extremely timely and relevant. Indeed, in this difficult time the world is driven by an active life philosophy, the  ability for self-realization of every individual. That sense of support and solidarity which AMOR provides is a strong psychological factor for the formation of personal traits and social confidence. Your focus on a better future, the ability to take non-standard decisions show that a qualitatively new, creatively-thinking generation of Azerbaijanis is being formed, which is supported by a deliberate action strategy, with concrete deeds, humanitarian actions, aimed at the rapprochement of our countries and our peoples. Many Azerbaijanis living in Russia are its rightful citizens. I am sure that among our young people there will be people like Kirim Kirimov, Sabit Urudzhev, Tahir Salahov and Farman Salmanov, who, being Azerbaijanis, brought an invaluable contribution to various spheres of public life, not only in the Soviet Union but also in today's Russia. Only five years separate us from the creation of the First Azerbaijani club MGIMO by Leyla Aliyeva and the subsequent appearance of similar clubs in universities of Russia. AMOR today is a national non-governmental organization of federal importance, which has more than 70 regional offices - from Kaliningrad to Khabarovsk, from Vladivostok to Astrakhan, from Sochi to Arkhangelsk. Having a common ideological platform, lofty goals, a well-articulated program, a great desire not only to contemplate, but also to create the world, to change it for the better, members of AMOR are actively involved in a variety of social activities. Projects in education, health, charity events in orphanages and schools are addressed primarily at Russian society and serve as proof of the great respect for the country in which you now live. An important part of AMOR is also another objective - the study of the native language and history, preservation of cultural heritage and national values while living abroad.

Leyla Aliyeva, AMOR's chairman

With every year our organization is becoming stronger. I am sure that AMOR will adequately represent Azerbaijan in Russia and contribute to the development of relations between our countries. Today in Azerbaijan there are more than 16 thousand students studying the Russian language. We have the largest Russian diaspora from the South Caucasus. In my opinion, this is very valuable for both parties, because nothing brings people together, nothing makes friendship stronger than cultural diversity.

We will continue our projects in the areas of health, such as "The Cabinet of the Nation", to visit orphanages and boarding schools. We will be holding sports events, we will be holding contests such as "What? Where? When?" Actually, I hope that this year we are going to cooperate with Russian youth organizations more, because I am sure that a great number of interesting projects can be carried out together. AMOR regularly, each year, invites about 40 people from Russia to Azerbaijan. We will continue this project. I hope that our cooperation will expand.

Azad Rahimov, Minister of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan

All over the world today young people - students, employees, workers, professionals – are more than any other social or age group at the forefront of inter-cultural dialogue. To be able to find a balance between preserving one's identity and having respect for the country that has accepted you, without breaking its existing order and preserving your own traditions, to become an insider without being alienated from your own roots is a problem that you are solving every day. And you, the younger generation of Azerbaijanis in Russia, deal with it in a dignified way. You do not only read and write in Russian, you think in it and write works that Russian-speaking readers admire. "Baku" magazine is a good example of respect for the culture and the traditions of respect, to the feelings and expectations of thoughtful young readers. Azerbaijanis do not only participate in intellectual games, where often a simple knowledge of the language is not enough, but they set the tone for the entire game and win in a wonderful way. You do not just live in Russian society. You also strive to make a useful contribution to its development. You are a peculiar combination of the distinctive features of Azerbaijanis: Eastern wisdom and tolerance, talent and friendliness combined with qualities acquired in Russian society: broad-based knowledge, interest in science, technologies, you are closer to understanding the inexplicable phenomenon of the Russian soul. The all-national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, once said something that today every Azerbaijani knows by heart. He said, "For every person his nationality is the source of his pride. I have always been proud and I am proud today that I am Azerbaijani." We all agree with these words. After all, what is a nation? Above all, it is memory. The memory of our ancestors who built the country, the memory of great men who glorified it, contributed to the development of the country, the memory of events, their causes and consequences. The nationality of each of us is in the heritage of our ancestors, a peculiar heritage composed of language, religion, everyday habits and cultural traditions, transmitted to the next generation. We clearly see the respect of AMOR for our shared memory and for our common heritage. The organization aims at finding new, clear forms in order to present and share its cultural riches, to contribute to the enrichment of cultures, thus strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and Russia.

The famous journalist Andrei Malakhov was the host of the evening.

I think that those close ties that we are talking about are also due to the fact that the two countries have a visa-free regime. At any moment you can buy a plane ticket to find yourself in beautiful, welcoming, warm Baku, which I do not cease to admire, a city that is changing every minute in front of your eyes. Every time you find yourself there, you realize that people living in the capital do everything in order to leave a good memory for their descendants. I think we all go away, but what remains after us? Certainly, the architecture in which we live, the trees that we planted and the good things that our descendants will remember.

During the event, a meeting of representatives of non-governmental youth organizations of Azerbaijan and Russia took place and an exhibition dedicated to the activities of AMOR, Azerbaijani culture and ecology was organized. In the final part of the conference, Leyla Aliyeva thanked participants of the forum for their work and handed out diplomas for excellent academic performance to students.

Participants of the AMOR forum from Krasnoyarsk

This is our third year in AMOR. We come from distant Siberia, from Krasnoyarsk. We have not come in vain. Our hopes were realized, everything was great, at the highest level. In Krasnoyarsk, we have a lot of events: Cups of Nations, international festivals, inter-cultural ethnic meetings, various conferences on the customs, traditions and history of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani art and the great people of Azerbaijan. On the basis of our youth center, an ensemble was created five years ago. Each year we have final concerts. The ensemble is called "Oldar Yurdu." The ensemble is well known, not only in Russia, but also abroad. We participate in international festivals in Turkey, we participate annually.

Murad Dadashev, artist and TV-anchor

The young generation of Azerbaijani in Russia is the most interesting example of integration of one nation into society of a foreign country. It is easy. Some people came to Russia long ago right from regions, districts, and provinces, not from Baku. When they say that our people can be met only on markets, it is not true. However, we shouldn’t underestimate merits of these people: their labor is very hard. What will happen if Azerbaijani leave Russian markets? Vitamin deficiency will cover Russia. These people do very hard work. I remember the movie “Godfather.” I believe that this movie is about Azerbaijani. There is an episode in this film when old Michael Corleone is visited by his nephew Vincent Corleone who is young. He says: “Don Michael, I want to be close to you.” And Michael Corleone says: “The time has passed, son. I need laywers, I need judges, I need other men.” The times when Azerbaijani had only one path – from the airport to a market, from a railway station to a market – have passed. New time has come. I have met young people today and was shocked – absolutely different society is establishing. They are beautiful, very smart, very creative, very active and enthusiastic people. When we speak about Turks who live in Germany, everybody forgets an important fact. Turkey shouts: “We have a great diaspora there!” I have been there and saw these Turks who live in four separate streets and don’t go to German restaurants because they don’t want eat there. They are dependent on “their own” places, they communicate only with each other. It doesn’t matter where they live – in African villages or European megacities – they watch only their TV channels. What do Azerbaijani do in Russia, meanwhile? We are integrated into the country, we treat it adequately – at least we try to do it, and it is clear… The country which you represent here, even though you are citizens of Russia, makes you be proud of it. After Eurovision 2012 you can say: “It is our motherland, it is cool, fashionable, and awesome.” Today it is a trend to say that Baku is our capital. But the country cannot communicate adequately to the authorities of the enemy side. I think it resembles a talk between a blind man and a deaf man, when the most difficult in the Karabakh conflict cannot be explained. I remember Golda Meir said: “We could forgive Palestinians for killing our children. But we could never forgive them for making us kill their children.” This phrase is monstrous. Great sums are spent for armaments today. Azerbaijan is a developed state, a progressive and stron state. And we do  need a very strong diaspora.