State Diaspora Committee takes no motiveless criticism

There is no unity among Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations. There is more than one Azerbaijani organization in a separate country, and each of them is on the outs. All attempts to unite them and hold a unified conference come to nothing. Further complicating the case is that Azerbaijani Embassies in a host state are engaged in splitting the Diaspora through giving preference to "friend" organizations and backing out of Azerbaijanis contrary to state "format", as viewed by Azerbaijanis abroad.

Even so, there are really acting "Diaspora organizations with their own ideas and initiatives! They are well known in the State Diaspora Committee. But they want to remain invisible for you ".

"In fact, there is not, perhaps, a unifying purpose; but all of them miss their motherland, native speech; however, it is impossible to attain this goal for no reason, ignoring traditions. We need support at the first stage to unite", Azerbaijanis from Russia and USA report.

It should be noted that Baku is well aware of Diaspora problems. To address the issue, a Milli Majlis deputy, Fuad Muradov was appointed a chairman of the State Diaspora Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic in April 2018. This notwithstanding, criticism against this organization is still underway.

What is this structure supposed to be doing? Turan talked about the subject with Committee’s expert, Teymur Atayev.

First of all, he disagreed with the opinion above as saying that the Committee had been active in the last two years. Thus, in 2018-2019 the State Committee initiated for the first time ever youth summer camps of the Azerbaijani Diaspora. The first of them was staged in Shemakha region to deal with 100-anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic; the second summer camp was held under the aegis of 650-anniversary of Imadeddin Nasimi. It has to be kept in mind that the first summer camp laid down principles of network of the Azerbaijani Diaspora youth. The latter was responsible for bringing political information about Azerbaijan and its cultural-historical heritage to the attention of the world public. Participants of summer camps began putting important propaganda measures into effect in countries of domicile.

It should be added that the State Committee does not work with Diaspora organizations «vertically»; it lays emphasis on coordinating functions only. What is different about it is that under current circumstances the general issues are discussed in terms of online conferences with the participation of representatives of Azerbaijani organizations abroad. Besides, the State Committee has initiated a number of successful projects, in particular, «Minds Capture Program» which is designed to arrange lectures of Azerbaijani origin experts from abroad at national universities where they share their knowledge and practical experience.

Added to this can be that Т. Atayev referred to other campaigns as well. In particular, an Azerbaijani book corner has opened at the library of Danubevaros University in Hungary; a center of integration of Georgian Azerbaijanis together with educational circles set up in Marneuli (Georgia); a sporting club «Karabakh» officially arranged by Azerbaijanis established in Rotterdam (Netherlands). Also, an Azerbaijani school has been active in Nantes.

For more on this see State Committee site in Azeri, English and Russian languages. Underway are activities of Internet «Diaspor ТV» and radio «Diaspor FM». На «Diaspor ТV» организованы Online-lessons «Azeri language», as well as headings «Karabakh», «Good morning, Azerbaijan», etc. are operating on «Diaspor ТV». There are also projects «Give insight into Azerbaijanis abroad», etc. Also, the State Diaspora Committee has initiated an Online-ceremony of the opening of the «Professional Social Network of Azerbaijani Diaspora Youth» project.

It must be acknowledged that the State Commission has been engaged in uniting Diaspora organizations, Atayev added. Suffice it to note that 11 Coordination Councils of Diaspora Organizations to embrace Azerbaijanis residing in 27 countries have been set up last year; steps made to arrange networking and coordinate activities of or compatriots abroad on unified basis. A media center and ICT are active in the area of organization and propaganda work. A center’s site provides information about 500 Diaspora organizations in 49 countries.

Also, operation headquarters under the State Committee takes an active part in returning home citizens of Azerbaijan that failed to do that before border closure.

It is worth reminding that in June 2020 activities of Diaspora organizations intensified in response to the Armenian aggression in Tovuz region. The Congress of Azerbaijanis in Europe; Coordination Councils of Azerbaijanis of Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Benelux countries, Netherlands-Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, representatives of «Home of Azerbaijan» and «Fraternity» Hungary), Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany, Congress of Azerbaijanis in Moldova, Azerbaijani Diaspora «Can» in Norway, Association of Azerbaijanis in Finland and Australia, youth organizations of Azerbaijanis in Lithuania and «Azerbaijan-Turkey» (Finland), Diaspora of Azerbaijanis «Patriot» in Egypt, «Friendship Society Jordan – Azerbaijan», Republican Center of National Culture of Azerbaijan (Uzbekistan), «Ata Yurd-Nomad» ethno-culture of Azerbaijan and youth organization «Heydar» (Kazakhstan) made statements and appealed to the world public.

There is a further point to be made is that Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations of Russia signed a common statement and made special appeals. Thus, thus chairman and deputy chairman of All-Ukrainian organization «United Diaspora of Azerbaijanis of Ukraine» Hikmet Javadov and Murad Jafarov presented their insights into developments in authoritative Ukrainian publications «Gordonua» and «Obozrevatel».

Our Jewish compatriots - «House of Azerbaijan», International Association Israel-Azerbaijan «AZIZ» (Israel) and Humanitarian Organization of Jews (USA) had their say on current situation as well.

Also, political statements came from Association «Friends of Azerbaijan», «Paris House of Azerbaijan» (France), Alliance of Netherlands Women «Motherland» and Turkish Cultural Center in the Netherlands.

An unprecedented scope of support Azerbaijan received from Turkey where Society «Turkish-Azerbaijani Friendship», «House of Azerbaijan» in Ankara, House of Culture named after Heydar Aliyev and Federation of Turkish-Azerbaijani Associations, «Azerbaijani Culture and Solidarity Association» (Izmir), Federation of Journalists «Turkish World», «House of Azerbaijan» in Igdyr, Azerbaijani Student Union (Kayseri), «Association of Culture and Solidarity of Azerbaijan» (Istanbul, Manise), Association of Houses of Azerbaijan» (Kojaeli Derinc) came in full strength.

Commenting on critical statements of Azerbaijani public figures, in particular, economist Gubad Ibadogly and former diplomat Arif Mamedov, Teymur Atayev noted:

- There is no problem. The State Diaspora Committee is a transparent organization to act openly. What is important to notice is that one can get questions answered on pages of Committee’s portal. It’s another matter that tirades against the State Committee occurred in terms of unprecedented development of our Diaspora movement. For some months past the Diaspora organizations have got through an astounding amount of work. It is worth reminding that the State Committee has carried out pioneering work based on modern digital technologies. There is an information department under the State Committee. Why should not our critics address their questions to this department directly to get a specific response to their claims? asked Teymur Atayev, an expert of the State Diaspora Committee of Azerbaijan Republic.