TO AZERBAIJANIS OF THE WORLD!
Dear fellow countrymen,
I am addressing you on the occasion of one of our people’s dearest holidays, the Solidarity Day of the World Azerbaijanis. Every year, December 31 is solemnly celebrated by our compatriots throughout the world as a nationwide holiday. Its main content includes respect to national and moral values of our people, belonging to the Azerbaijani nation, affection for Motherland and feelings and ideas of Azerbaijanism.
Disseminating these high ideas among Azerbaijanis residing across the world as consolidating values, preservation and development of our language, culture and progressive customs and traditions had constituted the national leader Heydar Aliyev’s heart’s desire.
In the years of independence, the idea of solidarity of the Azerbaijanis of the world transformed from being public initiatives and personal feelings to practical work, many-sided plan of actions and one of the most important directions of the state policy.
Long-term and purposeful measures were taken in the field of organizing Azerbaijanis in the countries of their compact living, their consolidation and strengthening ties with historic motherland.
Today, Azerbaijanis of the world are acting in their countries as influential and active communities, integrating into the economic, socio-political and cultural life of society, and playing an important role in development of friendship and cooperation between their countries and the Republic of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, based on the provisions of the international documents on human rights, the Republic of Azerbaijan is taking practical actions to defend civil rights of our compatriots all over the world.
However, the cause of strengthening ties among Azerbaijani communities functioning in different countries of the world and enhancing the influence of our compatriots on socio-political and cultural life of individual countries as well as on important problems in the globalizing world, is not on a due level. Therefore, Diaspora organizations and related state bodies should work hard to put all resources into action in these directions. At the same time, they should carry out serious work to enhance cooperation with lobbies and Diaspora organizations of the friendly countries and peoples.
The Republic of Azerbaijan is currently experiencing an important period of development and progress in its history. All the tasks set are being solved successfully. Over the past few years, Azerbaijan has been occupying leading positions in the world on economic growth rate and implementation of infrastructure projects.
As a result of commissioning the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, an important contribution in the global economic and energy security, start of laying the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and realization of other projects, Azerbaijan has become a leading state in the region.
The senses of unity, solidarity and national dignity of our citizens and compatriots have increased.
Now, the most important challenge ahead is active popularization of the truth about Azerbaijan throughout the world enhancing positive image of our nation on the one hand, and expose of the insidious Armenian propaganda taking active offensive stance on the other one.
I extend my heartfelt greetings to our compatriots across the world on our dear holiday, and best wishes for good health, peace and prosperity.
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, 25 December 2007
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