Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The Central Council of the All-Russian Azerbaijanis Congress (AAC) held an extraordinary meeting in Moscow last Friday, which was attended by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice President and the Foundation`s Russian representation head Leyla Aliyeva.

The event was preceded by a meeting of the AAC Presidium members, including Leyla Aliyeva, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Azerbaijani Consul General in Saint Petersburg Gudsi Osmanov, First Deputy Director General of Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Mikhail Gusman as well as Azerbaijani diaspora representatives, who discussed a number of key issues.

Opening the meeting of the Congress, Chairman Mammad Aliyev spoke about the issue of its registration by Russia's Justice Ministry. A representative of the ministry read out a document which confirmed that the Congress had been registered by the ministry.

Aliyev said Gudsi Osmanov was proposed to become Executive Director of the Congress administration.

Osmanov for his part said it was a great honor for him to work with the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, noting that he would respond to the proposal after considerationbecause of his current position.

Head of the Congress Executive Administration Nemat Nagdaliyev in his speech highlighted the Congress' achievements since its last conference in 2011.

Nagdaliyev said the Congress was playing a key role in the social life of Russia, adding that it maintained good relations with Russian government agencies and private sector entities.

Heads of the regional offices of the Congress reported on their activity. The Congress participants discussed a 2013 action plan, noting that marking of the 90th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev would be among priority issues.

Last year, the Congress founded the Heydar Aliyev Award, which will be conferred to Russian public figures who played a role in developing the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.

The AAC was established on March 5, 2001 during the constituent convention of the Congress with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev.

The congress is a social organization uniting the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia to protect its civil rights and address national, cultural and social needs.

The main aim of the Congress is to strengthen peace and interethnic concord in Russia, as well as develop and strengthen social, economic and cultural relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.