Azernews.Az

The president of the US-Azerbaijan Society has severely criticized the Azeri government`s policies on the Diaspora.
As the World Azeris Coordinating Council met in Baku on Thursday, Tomris Azeri, who acts as vice-president of the organization`s steering board, said a number of problems facing the Azeri Diaspora abroad have yet to be resolved and there remains a lack of unity in the community.
"Diaspora organizations are still engaged in addressing their internal problems. We have not achieved the lifting of Section 907 [legislation restricting US assistance to the Azeri government], and the truth about the Khojaly tragedy [the massacre unleashed by Armenian forces in February 1992] is still not common knowledge in the world today," Azeri said.
According to Azeri, some ministries and embassies are failing to pay enough attention to the Diaspora. The building housing the US-Azerbaijan Society has been in a deplorable condition for many years. Thus, Azeris in America have to hold their meetings elsewhere.
"How can we invite US Congressmen and Senators there? Let`s be frank at such meetings. Let`s speak up, we might find a way out."
The Diaspora leader said work has been ongoing in past years to strengthen the Azeri Diaspora in the United States. Two major organizations have been established as part of these efforts. However, lobbying work in the U.S. should not be confined to Washington and the Azeri communities in New York as New Jersey and California should be bolstered, Azeri said.
According to Azeri, the Armenian Diaspora in the U.S. will try to put pressure on the incoming administration to achieve recognition of the alleged Ottoman Empire-era genocide. Therefore, the Azeri community, jointly with their Turkish counterparts, should have plans to counter this.
"To be strong, we have to work systematically, and we shouldn`t take personal interests as a basis when it comes to the Diaspora. As a nation, we are stronger than our enemies, but we lack the unity they have," Azeri added.

`Solidarity charter`
The draft of a document expressing unity among Azeris throughout the world was discussed at the Coordinating Council meeting, a member of parliament said.
Nizami Jafarov said the World Azeris Solidarity Charter, which contains three sections and 25 provisions, fully covers the strategy of the Azeri Diaspora`s efforts. It builds on the ideas of Azerbaijanism along with present-day realities. The document, which was developed by 20 scholars, is a single concept laying out the historic tasks facing the Azeri Diaspora in promoting political, economic, social and moral unity among Azeris living around the globe, and strengthening national interests and Azeri statehood. The Charter outlines the principles and mechanisms of ensuring Azeris` basic rights and freedoms in the countries of residence, in keeping with local legislation and international law.
According to Jafarov, the paper dwells upon three key issues. First, it seeks to preserve the mindset of Azeris and their national affiliation, regardless of the country they reside in. Second, it calls on Azeris to contribute to the solution of problems facing their homeland. Third, the charter envisions utilizing the potential of the Azeri state to help solve the problems faced by Azeris living abroad.
The document is to be formally adopted next year.