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Tale Heydarov: The Azerbaijani youth must be more actively involved in lobbying

07 April 2012 16:13 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Chairman of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) Tale Heydarov addressed the panel on the theme â€œFormation of organizational, diaspora and lobbying activities of the Azerbaijani youth studying abroad: vision and prospectsâ€ at the forum â€œIâ€™m a young ambassadorâ€ of the Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF) in Budapest, APA reports.

Speaking about the history of Azerbaijanisâ€™ studying abroad, Tale Heydarov said most of the Azerbaijani intellectuals had studied abroad before Azerbaijanâ€™s first higher school Baku State University was established in 1919. Naming Hasan bey Zerdabi, Feteli Khan Khoyski, Najaf bey Vazirov among them, Chairman of TEAS said after Azerbaijan gained independence in 1918, the need for specialists with higher education was observed more clearly.
â€œAzerbaijanâ€™s Ministry of Education allocated 7 million manats for this, official decision was made to send students at those expenses to Russia, France, Turkey, England, Italy,â€ he said.

Tale Heydarov noted the importance of studying the historical practice.
â€œThere is a need to study the historical student movement of Azerbaijan regarding the education abroad. The activity of the persons, who once studied at various higher schools of Europe, should be researched. At the same time this would be respect to the persons, who laid the foundation of integration into the European education system, would establish an important bridge between generations. I would like to note that The European Azerbaijan Society is working on the project entitled â€œ100 studentsâ€ about the persons sent to study abroad by Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, studies are being done in the European states concerning it. A documentary film will be made and collection of documents published as a result of the realization of the project,â€ he said.

Speaking about the organizational, diaspora and lobbying activity of the Azerbaijani youth studying abroad, Take Heydarov said it is necessary to determine the peculiarity of the education of the Azerbaijani youth abroad.
â€œAs is known, the strategy of the education abroad, its management and implementation, employment of graduates etc. are regulated by the state program. This is a new period in the history of the education of the Azerbaijani youth abroad,â€ he said.

Chairman of TEAS also spoke about the organizational and diaspora activities of the students.
â€œThe main peculiarity of the diaspora activity is to unite the Azerbaijanis abroad in a unique platform. The ideology of Azerbaijanism stands in the center of this platform. There is a need to determine the exact geographical distribution of the Azerbaijani students in Europe. It is important to establish Azerbaijanis organizations at the universities, where Azerbaijanis are studying, organize the democratic, independent and creative activity of these organizations. This process has direct influence on the promotion of Azerbaijan in the country, where these organizations are functioning, and on the efficiency of the activity towards the formation of the lobby groups. I think, taking into account the specific character of the youth, their progress, changeability of the contingent of students, it would be more expedient not to give preference to serious centralization. The organizations meeting high standards and the character of the Azerbaijani youth are the major factor of the success of the diaspora and lobbying activity,â€ he said.

Tale Heydarov also spoke about the experience of TEAS in this sphere. He said TEAS is a London-based independent nongovernmental organization, its objective is to promote Azerbaijan in Europe, inform the world about the national problems and get the support of the European Union members in their solution. He said TEAS is raising awareness in Germany, Belgium, France and other countries regarding Azerbaijanâ€™s history, culture, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œThe European Azerbaijan Society has special concepts prepared by legal experts on all directions of its activity, including diaspora activity. This allows us to organize our activity on the level of the modern requirements. The concept of the Society pays special attention to the students studying abroad,â€ he said.

He said the 3rd Congress of the World Azerbaijanis, adoption of the national documents at the congress gave an impetus to the diaspora activity.
â€œUnfortunately, one can not say the same about the lobbying activity. Taking this into consideration, The European Azerbaijan Society has prepared directions of national activity in the sphere of lobbying and gained experience in this sphere. As a result of hard work, all-round relations have been established with the parliaments, political parties, scientists and culture figures of the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and other countries,â€ he said.

Tale Heydarov said the major lobbying activity consists of establishing various groups defending Azerbaijanâ€™s interests in the European countries, added that they introduced detailed materials to these groups.
â€œI want to underline an issue, to which we pay special attention in the lobby formation. This is to take into account the counterpropaganda of the anti-Azerbaijan forces that are worried by our extending lobbying activity. Such forces are afraid of Azerbaijanâ€™s increasing influence, organize media war against the lobby groups supporting our country, attempt to discredit them. It is one of our major duties to be ready for such propaganda and defend our lobby group. I think lobbying activity needs more proficiency and experience. Very often dilettantism gives contrary results, even damages the prestige of the country. I can say that The European Azerbaijan Society has experienced structures in the sphere of lobby formation in the abovementioned states. The Azerbaijanis studying abroad must also be involved in it. The Azerbaijani youth must be more actively involved in lobbying,â€ he said.

Tale Heydarov underlined that the persons studying abroad have broad opportunities to inform the world about the truths on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œThe persons studying abroad, their organizations must have unique strategy. There is a need to prepare with high proficiency books, films and other projects for the foreign audience. After these projects are prepared, the persons studying abroad should hold presentations at the universities, where they are studying, give information about it to various academic circles. This can create new opportunities for extension of our lobbying activity,â€ he said.

Tale Heydarov said TEAS is always ready for cooperation in this sphere. He considers it expedient to hold presentations of the book entitled â€œThe Armenian Question in the Caucasus: Russian Archive Documents and Publicationsâ€, Mammad Said Ordubadiâ€™s â€œYears of Bloodâ€ published by TEAS in the UK and Russia, various documentary films about Azerbaijan made together with foreign studios.

Tale Heydarov noted the importance of paying special attention in the lobby formation to the activity with young, promising political forces, scientific, cultural circles in various countries.
â€œWe are trying to find these forces, cooperate with them, invite the students studying abroad to cooperate in this sphere,â€ he said.

ASAIF