Diaspora

Diaspora

World Azerbaijani Youth 1st Congress adopts resolution

29 November 2010 08:40 (UTC +04:00)

APA correspondent reports from Frankfurt that Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium Emin Eyyubov delivered speech on integration of the Azerbaijani youth living abroad into society. He said Belgium, which has a population of about 10 million, covers an area three-time smaller than territory of Azerbaijan, but it is a large country in European Union. The integration of Azerbaijanis into society of the countries, where they live, is very important issue, said the ambassador and added that this process needs in time. The diplomat said people born in the country could integrate into its society easier than their parents migrated to this country.

The ambassador gave information about the number of Azerbaijanis living in Belgium and said unofficial statistics showed 700-800 Azerbaijanis are living in this country, but only 150 0f them were registered in the consulate. The ambassador said Turkish-origin people living in Belgium could strengthen their positions in the society in recent years. There are two Turkish-origin members of the Belgian parliament and one Turkish-origin in the government.

Speakers addressing the panels recommended the young people to popularize Azerbaijanâ€™s culture, history, literature, music and cookery, and first of all to popularize Azerbaijani people as an ethnos in the countries where they live.

One of the aspects prevented the integration is close ties of young people with Azerbaijani society. Sometimes they remain tied with Azerbaijan and donâ€™t join the society where they live. Other aspect is that some of them think they are staying in the country temporarily and therefore feel themselves as the guests.

Those, who intend to stay and work after the university, face with other problems such as unemployment. They choose a way to get second and sometimes third education for staying in the country.

Every year hundreds of students are coming to get education within the public programs, said the congress participants and added that unprepared students pass through a cultural shock there. The participants proposed to the Ministry of Education to organize intensive language courses for the students, as well as to launch a website to support integration into the countries virtually.

Speaking about the lobby activity of the young people, the participants said as distinct from the United States, the lobby activity is not accepted positively in Europe. It is important to work with the legislative bodies there. They said sometimes mass lobby activity creates opposite effect and it needs to do more professional work.

Chairwoman of the American Azerbaijani Society Tomris Azeri spoke about the activity of her organization. She called Nagorno Karabakh conflict as a painful problem of Azerbaijan and addressed the young people saying that â€œyou are under obligation to Homeland, this is not only Azerbaijanâ€™s struggle, this is struggle of all of usâ€. Azeri said it is important to grow up the Azerbaijani children living in the United States in national spirit and noted that 150 American families adopted children from Azerbaijan. â€œWe are visiting those children and making them to love Azerbaijanâ€.

The participants made various proposals to create Diaspora encyclopedia, to establish Diaspora and lobby education center, to make films about Nagorno Karabakh conflict and etc.

The participants addressed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the end of the congress. â€œThe delegates of the congress highly appreciate the work done by the government of Azerbaijan for the development and progress of the country, national Diaspora-building and work with youth. We consider that Azerbaijani youth should actively support this policy and participate in the solution of issues arisen from the national interests. We, participants of the 1st Congress of the World Azerbaijani Youth, assure You that, every Azerbaijani young man or woman, not depending on where he or she live, will make all efforts to protect the national interests of Azerbaijan and always support the Azerbaijani presidentâ€.

The participants also addressed the world community, international organizations, foreign parliaments and heads of states and governments about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict. â€œWe, participants of the 1st Congress of the World Azerbaijani Youth address the world community, international organizations, foreign parliaments and heads of states and governments to mobilize their efforts to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict for welfare of the South Caucasus, for security of the people living in this region and for future of the children. We are sure that only the world communityâ€™s fair, strong and principal position is a key to secure future of the South Caucasusâ€.

The 1st Congress of the World Azerbaijani Youth adopted a resolution supporting the idea of establishing the World Azerbaijani Youth Union for Diaspora-building of Azerbaijani youth organizations, informing the world community about the Azerbaijani realities, protection of national-spiritual values, protection of human rights and freedoms, coordination of the activities for popularization of cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.