December 31 is the day of Solidarity between all Azerbaijanis worldwide. The president of the National Forum of Azerbaijani public organizations, and the member of Azerbaijani Diaspora coordination center, Rauf Zeyni, told VK about the history and ideology of this date.
- There was no Solidarity Day in Azerbaijan back in Soviet times. The Azerbaijani people started to seek out their compatriots abroad at the time of the struggle for independence. At first, we started to determine where the Azerbaijani diaspora is large and where there are no Azerbaijani people at all. So the Parliament passed the law on Solidarity Day in 1991, under the initiative of our national leader, Heydar Aliyev.
- What is the main idea of this commemorative date?
- Azerbaijani people reside in many countries: 60 million of us in some 50 countries. There are 9 million of us in Azerbaijan, 30 million - in Iran, 4 million in the CIS countries, more than 4 million in European countries. After the collapse of the USSR we understood that we should stand together. We share the same joys and griefs: the events of the 20th of January, the Khojaly tragedy, the genocide of March 31st, the Norvuz Bayram celebration, Republic Day... So, all Azerbaijanis of the world think of their compatriots on the 31st of December. And the main idea is that all Azerbaijanis of the world should be united.
- The Diaspora center was opened in 2001 under the National Forum of Public Organizations. What is the centre's purpose?
- The center was opened on my initiative. We created a list of official organizations of Azerbaijanis abroad - some 50 of them - and created a coordination board. We have organized large-scale meetings and conferences of diaspora figures since 2002. Our work is in three directions: we promote relations between Azerbaijan's public and Azerbaijan's civic organizations, between the public and our diaspora, and international organizations. We started publishing the 'Diaspora' magazine, which touches upon the most pressing issues. Our network of co-operation is widespread, from Australia to Holland. We promote interest in our problems in the world media.
- Does your center co-operate with the State Committee for Azerbaijanis living abroad?
- The Committee was created in 2002 and we started our co-operation back then, when the state law 'On Azerbaijanis living abroad" was adopted. And on the 18th of December 2008 the first Charter of Azerbaijani Solidarity was issued.
- What problems does the diaspora face?
- It takes decades to create a strong diaspora, even with the support of the home government and an active attitude of diaspora organizations. We should also adapt international experience (Jewish, Greek, Armenian, Lebanese) to our needs. One of our scientists, Fikret Abdullaev, noted the strong organization of the Lebanese diaspora in Mexico. Even the Mexican president admitted it, by saying: "If you have no Lebanese friend, you are lonely". We decided to publish information in our 'Diaspora' magazine in Russian, Azerbaijani and English, so that all Azerbaijanis of the world could benefit the common case and touch their motherland's culture and history. Today we have already organized systematic congresses of Azerbaijani diasporas in Ukraine, Russia, Europe, the USA and Canada. In the USA, we created a network for all Azerbaijanis living there, and this network should be expanded throughout the world. The Congress of Azerbaijanis of the World is divided into two parts, and I think that's wrong. So our main problem is that we don't yet have a strong worldwide organization.
- Which one of all these organizations is the most efficient?
- Recently, an office of the Heydar Aliev Foundation opened in Russia, and that contributed greatly to its diaspora development - for example, the recently-organized company "Justice for Khodjaly" was supported by young Azerbaijanis throughout the world. When the organizations are created in the right time and headed by young, competent and ambitious leaders, they are always efficient, for example the Organization of Azerbaijani Youth.
- What contribution does the diaspora make to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem?
- We organize exhibitions, rallies, etc. in the CIS, the EU, the USA, Australia, bringing public attention to the issue. Now these activities are pretty intense, as compared to the state of affairs10 years ago.
- Which country has the most active Azerbaijani organizations?
- The most numerous diaspora is in Russia. However, German and Ukrainian organizations are more active, and that's what is important right now.
- Where there any important events for the diaspora in this year?
- A Congress of Azerbaijani People in Germany was held recently. It is also important to mention the first International Forum of Azerbaijani Youth, held in Frankfurt in November. Interesting activities were also held in Estonia on the 28th of March, on Republic Day.
- Does the Azerbaijani Diaspora co-operate with other people's organizations?
- We are working in close co-operation with Turkish diaspora organizations (so that we are almost one in some countries) and with the Jewish diaspora in the USA. However, our relations with other CIS people's diasporas are pretty mythical, even with other Turkish peoples' organizations. But if we don't work in close co-operation with Kazakh, Tatar, Kirghiz or Belarusian and Moldavian diasporas, our activities will be not efficient. So the promotion of these relations is our top priority.
Interview by Ramin Naziyev, Baku. Exclusively for VK
