December 31 - World Azerbaijani Solidarity Day

December 31 is celebrated as the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

BAKU.WS reminds that on December 16, 1991, at the session of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic chaired by Heydar Aliyev, a decision was made to declare December 31 as the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

The Supreme Majlis sent an appeal to the country's parliament - the Supreme Council, requesting the adoption of an appropriate legislative act. On December 25, the National Council of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic, having considered the appeal, adopted a law declaring December 31 as the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

On November 9-10, 2001, the First Congress of World Azerbaijanis was held in Baku. This historic event had a significant impact on strengthening the national self-awareness of compatriots, increasing the organization and activity of Azerbaijani communities in various countries. This initiative became a new movement in the socio-political life of the country and a new direction of state policy. The winged phrase of the national leader, which he pronounced with great pride at the congress: "I have always been proud and am proud today that I am an Azerbaijani!", became a national motto.

After the congress, according to the decree of national leader Heydar Aliyev dated July 5, 2002, the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living in Foreign Countries (now the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs) was created to expand and develop ties with compatriots abroad. On December 27 of the same year, a law on state policy regarding compatriots was adopted, which further strengthened the process of national unity and organization of Azerbaijanis worldwide.

The national leader, despite his busy schedule and intense work during visits to foreign countries, always found time to meet with compatriots living and working in these countries. He showed genuine interest in their problems and concerns, and gave valuable recommendations on strengthening their organizational structure.

President Ilham Aliyev, relying on Heydar Aliyev's political philosophy and leadership school, successfully continues the work of his predecessor in this area. In accordance with the head of state's order dated February 8, 2006 "On holding the II Congress of World Azerbaijanis," another representative assembly took place in Baku on March 16 of the same year. This congress became a new step towards transforming Azerbaijanis living abroad from a diaspora into a lobby and played an important role in conveying the truth about Azerbaijan to the world community.

The first forum of leaders of Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora organizations, held on March 9, 2007, in Baku, was a significant event in the life of all Turkic-speaking peoples. This event went down in history as a vivid manifestation of the importance that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attaches to the unity of the Turkic world.

Today, the process of organizing our diaspora is going even more intensively. The meeting of the Coordination Council, which was created at the First Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held in Baku on December 18, 2008, and the adoption of the "Charter of World Azerbaijanis" at this meeting confirmed the growing unity and organization of the diaspora, strengthening its ties with the historical Homeland. These events also confirmed that independent Azerbaijan is the center of attraction for all Azerbaijanis of the world.

The Day of Solidarity embodies the feelings of national unity, love for Azerbaijan, respect for national and spiritual values, and attachment to the Homeland.

Under the leadership of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, important steps are being taken towards protecting the rights of Azerbaijanis worldwide.

In 2022, against the backdrop of tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran, Ilham Aliyev put forward important theses for protecting the rights of compatriots living abroad.

Speaking at the IX Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Samarkand on November 11, 2022, Ilham Aliyev stated:

"The Azerbaijani state pays special attention to ensuring the rights and freedoms, security of Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries. We will continue our efforts so that our compatriots, who by the will of bitter fate found themselves separated from the Azerbaijani state, preserve their language, traditions, culture, remain committed to the ideology of Azerbaijanism, and never break ties with their historical homeland."