Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education
Multiculturalism and the National Diaspora
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6.6. Multiculturalism and the National Diaspora
Over history Azerbaijan has evolved as a multicultural, cultural and intellectual area and as a region where different cultures, religions and civilizations coexist. Relations among the nations and ethnic groups living in this area were based on tolerance and created the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism. This model is based on the ideology of Azerbaijanism, the ideological and spiritual foundation of the traditions of coexistence in this country. Multiculturalism, tolerance and the ideology of Azerbaijanism are, therefore, closely interrelated. The Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism, a priority of Azerbaijan’s state policy, is the way of life of every Azerbaijani. The Azerbaijani diaspora consists of Azerbaijanis who have migrated from their motherland for socio-political, socio-economic
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or other reasons and live close together in communities in foreign countries, preserving and developing their national and cultural identity and keeping in touch with their motherland. They always consider themselves Azerbaijanis because of their loyalty to the moral, spiritual and cultural values of their nation. The Azerbaijani diaspora exists mainly in the USA, Canada, Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Turkey, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. If we analyse the history of the formation of the diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we can see that it has five stages: The first stage: in the early centuries of the Common Era and the Middle Ages this was marked by political and military events. The second stage: the migration of Azerbaijanis intensified as a result of the conquest of Northern Azerbaijan by the Russian Empire. The third stage: the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the establishment of Soviet power on 28 April 1920 led to the migration of the political and national elite of the Azerbaijani nation; The fourth stage: Azerbaijani prisoners of war in 1941-45 were forced to remain in various countries; The fifth stage: the collapse of the USSR, the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia in 1988 and, finally, the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their land as a result of the military aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1992-94 and the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts. 410
Although the history of migration of Azerbaijanis dates back many centuries, the process of establishing and developing Azerbaijani diasporas in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is connected with the name of Heydar Aliyev, National Leader and founder of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On his direct initiative a special state body – the State Committee on the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan – was instituted in order to unite Azerbaijanis living in different parts of the world. The World Congress of Azerbaijanis, as well as the universal formation and development of the ideology of Azerbaijanism were also his initiatives and have produced real results today. The policy of uniting Azerbaijanis around the world, pursued by Heydar Aliyev, is successfully continued today by Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This policy serves the goal of creating a single, integral and powerful Azerbaijani state in the near future. It must not be forgotten that the only organization where all the Azerbaijanis of the world are represented is the independent and democratic state of Azerbaijan. The liberation of our holy lands from the enemy and ensuring their security, achieving a worthy place for Azerbaijan among the countries of the world and its recognition by the world community is the duty of every Azerbaijani, wherever in the world they may live. In conformity with the law ‘On state policy on Azerbaijanis living abroad’, Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries enjoy the same rights as Azerbaijani citizens living in Azerbaijan. This unites them around a national ideology, cultivates in them patriotism, love for the motherland and ownership of their historical past and helps these feelings to develop organically. The national and spiritual unity of the Azerbaijani diaspora received a substantial boost from historic meetings. Heydar Aliyev’s annual address to Azerbaijanis around the world on 31 December,
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the International Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis, and various events in foreign countries were important in forming the diaspora as an organized power and setting the priorities for the lobbying of the Azerbaijani diaspora. The National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, said in his address to Azerbaijanis around the world on 26 December 2000: ‘Good use must be made of the potential of the Azerbaijani communities, cultural centres and friendship societies that are already established in foreign countries. The history of countries near and far shows that compatriots who live abroad in organized communities and work with a clear purpose, united around a unique national idea, who protect their progressive traditions are a great help to their country and a very important factor in building relations between their motherland and host countries.’ It is important to build relations among the organizations, communities, associations and societies where Azerbaijani diasporas live. Four congresses bringing together Azerbaijanis from around the world were of historic importance in building relations among the Azerbaijani diasporas. The First World Congress of Azerbaijanis was held on 9-10 November 2001, the Second World Congress on 16 March 2006, the third on 5 July 2011, and the fourth on 3 to 4 June 2016. Today President Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor to Heydar Aliyev, has raised the Azerbaijani diaspora to a new level of development and keeps them in the focus of attention. Ilham Aliyev’s policy on developing the diaspora is based on the ideology and principles determined by Heydar Aliyev. The main purpose of this policy is to unite Azerbaijanis living all over the world in a single organization in conformity with the political course determined by the National Leader. 412
The First Forum of the Heads of Azerbaijani and Turkic Diaspora Organizations was held in Baku in September 2007, on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev. It showed that the Azerbaijani diaspora has set major goals and that cooperation has been built among the diaspora organizations of all Turkic-speaking peoples. The Baku Declaration on the Strategy for the Joint Work of Azerbaijani and Turkic Diaspora Organizations and other documents signed at the forum determined the main principles and ideological and political concept of the partnership of Azerbaijani and Turkic communities. Every year Azerbaijani organizations and communities in foreign countries commemorate the anniversary of the occupation of our territories and the bloody, mass crimes committed by the Armenians during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They also ask international organizations to punish the occupying country, Armenia. The fact that the diasporas of other nations support the Azerbaijani diaspora shows that the ideology of tolerance and multiculturalism, the values of friendship and fraternity are not ignored by other nations and even win their sympathy and love. The ideology of Azerbaijanism that exists in different countries is attractive for national diasporas from the socio-political point of view, because it harmoniously embraces European and Turkic values, their legacy and progress and the spirit of dialogue with other cultures, both West and East. The formation of a diaspora takes a long time, so the need arises periodically to discuss pressing problems and issues. In this context events both at home and abroad, attended by President Ilham Aliyev, play an important role in shaping the diasporas. President Aliyev issued an instruction on 11 August 2004 on the development of a special Action Plan for the celebration of 2005 as the Year of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Russian Federation and the Year of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan. The
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Azerbaijani diaspora, the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Russia and the Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in Russia took an active part in the negotiations between the two countries on this action plan.
President Ilham Aliyev held meetings with our compatriots living in Russia and told them that they would always feel the support of Azerbaijan, and that the Azerbaijani government would always take care of them and pay attention to their needs. The President took part in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on 14 June 2014 and held meetings with representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora in St Petersburg. He assured them that new schools and cultural centres would be opened in the city to help them preserve their language, history and culture. President Ilham Aliyev does not ignore the diaspora in other countries either. For example, he spoke of the importance of forming a diaspora in his address to the 24th Congress of the Assembly of American-Turkish Associations in January 2004. He held meetings with representatives of the local Azerbaijani community in the USA on 26 April 2006, in Latvia on 5 October 2006, and in Germany on 15 February 2007. He assured the representatives of the diaspora organizations that the Azerbaijani government would support them in raising awareness of Azerbaijan in the world. The Second World Congress of Azerbaijanis held on 16 March 2006 helped to unite our compatriots living abroad around a single ideology, giving a strong impetus to the process of diaspora formation. President Aliyev’s historic speech at the Congress determined the priorities for the next stage in establishing diaspora organization and identified the new tasks to be done. The realities of globalization set new goals for Azerbaijan in diaspora formation. The creation of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora is another sign of the importance that the Azerbaijani government attaches to the process of diaspora formation. The Committee was established on the basis of the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad under Decree No. 54 issued by President Ilham Aliyev on 19 November 2008. The regulations and structure of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora was approved by presidential decree on 14 May 2009. The Third World Congress of Azerbaijanis held in Baku on 5-6 June 2011 set the ideology of national statehood at the foundation of the latest stage in the work of the diaspora. The President’s historic speech to the Congress set out the main priorities for the new stage in the development of the diaspora, setting objectives. The work of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan to develop the diaspora strengthens the national consciousness and loyalty to the motherland of all Azerbaijanis. President Aliyev considers the formation of the national diaspora an urgent task, so he keeps it on the agenda in his speeches, in documents signed by him, in his annual address to Azerbaijanis around the world on 31 December and in meetings held with representatives of the Azerbaijani communities abroad. The idea of the national unity of our compatriots and the establishment of organizations has been elevated to the level of high state policy. Regular work is done in this field and our compatriots living abroad are always aware of the care of the Azerbaijani government and President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan is carrying out its historic mission to unite Western and Eastern civilizations and successfully merge different cultures. The policy pursued today helps strengthen partnership and ensure peace and cooperation in the region and the world. The international forums held at the initiative of Azerbaijan confirm that the country is an active participant in intercultural dialogue and is carrying out its historic, geographical, moral and cultural mission successfully.
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