Azernews.Az

Improving the socio-political activity of Azerbaijanis is a priority of the state, a senior official has said.

"Every representative of the Azerbaijani diaspora represents their homeland and their nation abroad," Ali Hasanov, Presidential Administration's head of social and political issues, told a forum in Bodrum, Turkey, the State Committee on Diaspora reported on Sunday.

"Members of this meeting represent their own country, their own people. You spend a certain part of your time to fulfill this mission. Each member of the diaspora creates a vision about his/her people by his activities and residence in that country," Hasanov said at the forum, titled "Integration into the community of Azerbaijanis living abroad: current status and future prospects".

In his speech, Hasanov analyzed the main aspects, the direction and priorities in the diaspora's activity and lobbying organizations and expressed his thoughts on the challenges lying ahead.

Hasanov said the majority of participants are representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, and they live in more difficult conditions and in a different atmosphere.

"During the First Congress of World Azerbaijanis, national leader Heydar Aliyev brought [into spotlight] the principle of the philosophy of the Azerbaijanis living abroad. Each Azerbaijani should be a valuable citizen of the country in which he lives," Hasanov said.

Hasanov mentioned the second important condition of the diaspora as the principle "Every compatriot living abroad should not forget that he/she is an Azeri," put forward by Heydar Aliyev. He noted that the image of Azerbaijanis should be such that every countryman could be proud of him.

According to Hasanov, Azerbaijan is an independent state, and it has its own political, economic, geo-strategic, military and other interests and each member of Azerbaijani diaspora has to actively participate in meeting them.

"One of the most important conditions for this is that the Azerbaijanis living in Russia try to play a greater role in the development of this country. As a result, it will give a positive impetus to the development of relations between our countries. If the Azerbaijani diaspora is strong, makes a contribution to the development of Russia, the Russian government will consider it in its relations with Azerbaijan," Hasanov said.

He said Azerbaijan has started building the diaspora later than other countries, noting the special care and attention which Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has been showing towards this issue for the past 10 years.

The official stressed that the president attaches great importance to the protection of the rights and freedoms of Azerbaijanis around the world.