Dear country fellows,

Current year the 31 December, embodiment of the wish on national-spiritual cohesion, basing on language, ideas and cause of our people, is being celebrated in Azerbaijan and beyond its borders with the sense of deep sorrow. The Azerbaijanis, residing in numerous parts of the globe, suffer the bitterness of loss bound with the passing of our national leader Heydar Aliyev – one of the greatest historical personalities of the Turkic world.

60-year political activity of Heydar Aliyev, who, thanks to his outstanding contributions before the Motherland and nation, erected to himself a grandiose monument in the heart of every Azerbaijani over the world, played a decisive role in creation, maintenance and strengthening of the independent state, with the desire on which the people along centuries lived. Heydar Aliyev passed away, but bequeathed to us his most grandiose work – the mighty Azerbaijan Republic, with great farsightedness determine the place of our country among the world community, pointed the ways of its development. As a prominent statesman and great thinker, he formed the idea of Azerbaijanism, which has a vital importance for out national statehood, made invaluable contribution to the cause of creation of national unity.

Proclamation 12 years ago on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev the 31 December as the Day of Solidarity of the World Azerbaijanis, which is a landmark political event in our modern history, laid the beginning of the process of cohesion of our compatriots on the ground of perception of the national dignity, set up favorable environment for strengthening of their contacts with the historical Motherland. Conducting on 9-10 November 2001 in Baku of the I Congress of World Azerbaijanis, creation on the Decree pf President Heydar Aliyev of special state structure on work with the Azerbaijanis living abroad, showed that the idea of reaching national solidarity and unity became an internal part of the state policy of Azerbaijan. All these measures, for both their number and national-spiritual, intellectual potential, gave a strong impetus to forming out nation, which stands side by side with the great nations of world, as a organized force, playing important role on the historical scene.

The Republic of Azerbaijan is hope and stronghold of the Azerbaijanis of the entire world, their native land, therefore, our country fellows residing in numerous regions of Europe, America, Asia, Africa, Australia, attentively watch the socio-political events occurring in the Motherland, experience satisfaction with successful continuation under the direction of the worthiest successor of the Heydar Aliyev political school, the incumbent President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev, launched by our national leader – architect and founder of our independent state - grandiose work and perspective plans, pursuing by our young state independent internal and external policy, meeting national interests.

Our compatriots, who deem the success of Azerbaijan theirs, and its problems – their problems, impatiently wait the day when will be restored territorial integrity of our Republic, when over one million refugees and IDPs return to their homelands. The problem of Karabakh, this is a pain of the entire nation, and therefore it is necessary that we all together render assistance to its settlement. Filial duty of every country fellow, irrespectively where he lives or work, before the motherland is that uniting in the name of overcoming the obstacles on the way of development of our independent state, including for abolishment of the sequences of aggression by Armenia against our Country, to lay every possible effort, achieve strengthening of Azerbaijani Diaspora in all the world countries, create strong Azerbaijani communities.

Everlasting continuation of our national statehood, persistent progress of Azerbaijan Republic in the conditions of freedom and welfare among the leading developed world countries mostly depend on the cohesion and unity of the world Azerbaijanis.

Dear compatriots,

Esteemed country fellows,

We call on You to further strengthening of our national-moral unity, to struggle for protection of the rights and interests of our people. We extend to You our heartfelt felicitations on the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis, wish each of you tranquility, happiness and family welfare, and our native Azerbaijan – joy of victory and bright future.

Respectfully,

Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic

(The Address was adopted at the session of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic on 30 December 2003)