TO PARTICIPANTS OF III CONGRESS OF RUSSIAN COMMUNITY OF AZERBAIJAN
Esteemed delegates to the Congress,
Dear country fellows,
I cordially welcome you - delegates to the Third Congress of the Russian community of Azerbaijan and extend to all of you my best wishes.
The largest on the South Caucasus, the Russian community, lives just in our country, what is evidence to ethnic and religious tolerance historically established in Azerbaijan, regulation of inter-ethnic relations by civil norms. Today, in our country, each citizen, irrespective of language, religion and ethnic belonging, is provided with the rights and freedoms, basing on international principles. As all the national minorities, the Russian population, too, wholly benefits from the existing democratic-legal environment and freely preserves and develops its national-spiritual values, its religion and culture. The Russians, widely represented in all spheres of socio-political, scientific-cultural and socio-economic life, actively take part in the massive reconstruction and creation activities, conducted in the country, in the strengthening of state independence.
With the feeling of gratitude I would note that the Russian citizens have demonstrated example of true patriotism also during the liberation of our lands from the Armenian occupation. Bright memories of such courageous sons as the National Heroes, sacrificing in the name of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Yuri Kovalyev, Yevgeny Karlov, Victor Seregin, Sergey Senyushkin, will for ever be honored by our people.
Unlike a number of CIS countries, after gaining independence, in Azerbaijan, there was not imposed any restriction on use and studying Russian language. Currently, in our republic, as earlier, tens of secondary schools continue functioning in Russian language, among them is the Russian departments at the higher educational institutions, the Baku Slavic University with rich academic-educational traditions, the State Theater of Russian Drama, Russian troupes in the national theaters. The TV and radio channels constantly broadcast programs in the Russian language, also are issued many printing organs and literature of different destination. And opening of the Baku branch of the Moscow State University last year became a notable event in the life of scientific-cultural community.
National leader Heydar Aliyev was very sensitive to ethnic and cultural diversity in our country as the historical achievement of our national state system.
We are committed to this political course and will continue our consistent efforts aimed at establishing principles of ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan and preserving national and cultural diversity..
Dear fellow countrymen!
Over the years of its activity, the Russian community of Azerbaijan has always been active in the process of conducting democratic and legal reforms, building free civil society and did a praiseworthy work for developing socio-cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Russian state, bringing our peoples closer and raising the world community`s awareness about Azerbaijan realities. I am sure that your organization will continue to represent the Russian community of the country, contribute much to further strengthening civil solidarity in our society and friendly and brotherly relations between our peoples.
I wish good health and happiness on this noble way to you and success to the congress
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
City of Baku, November 5, 2009
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