The 1st Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held in Baku from 9 to 10 November 2001, entered in the country’s history as the beginning of an important process. 406 participants and 63 guests from 36 foreign countries attended the 1st Congress. 702 delegates from 25 political parties and 844 guests from more than 130 state and public bodies, as well as from scientific, educational, cultural and other organizations represented Azerbaijan at the Congress.
On July 5, 2002, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev signed the Decree On the establishment of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad. The decree was an important historical document of exceptional importance from the point of view of the organized coordination of the activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora, ensuring the political and ideological unity of the Azerbaijanis of the world. The establishment of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad allowed us to take significant steps towards eliminating problems in this area and centralize the activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the direction of realizing our national interests.
One of the most important events of the past period was the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora on the basis of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, No. 54 dated November 19, 2008. In our modern era, the concept of diaspora has become an important element of international relations. The realities of our globalized world pose new challenges for Azerbaijan in the field of diaspora building. The rapid integration processes between peoples, the growing role of the diaspora and lobbying organizations in international politics have necessitated the development of this direction. This need led to the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
