Ilham Aliyev: Protection of the Azerbaijani language is the duty of each of us

If we were able to preserve our language during the years of colonialism, and our ancestors passed it on to us as a heritage, then how can we not preserve this language today? Sometimes consciously, sometimes out of ignorance, foreign words penetrate our language - they do not enrich it and do not make those who use them smarter.

As reported by AZERTAJ, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated this on January 5 in an interview with local TV channels.

"Knowing many languages is good, I am also in favor of this. But we should speak foreign languages when it is necessary. We must protect our language. Foreign words destroy the language, they do not enrich it and undermine national identity, drop by drop, little by little. Perhaps we ourselves do not even notice this, but the destruction occurs drop by drop. If the language is lost or damaged, or we completely adapt to another language, then national identity will also be lost, statehood will follow, and then, God forbid, our country may face a great catastrophe. Therefore, the protection of the Azerbaijani language is the duty of each of us. I say this with complete confidence and call on everyone to join this struggle," said the head of state.