By Us Secretary

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. The Chairman of
the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan Fuad
Muradov met with a Turkish delegation, including the rectors of
universities in the Eastern Anatolia region and the head of the
Igdir Azerbaijan House, a source in the committee told Trend.

Warmly welcoming the guests, Muradov noted that the friendly
relations between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye further
strengthen the existing ties between peoples and nations, and
stimulate joint activities in all areas.

Information was provided on the positive results of the projects
implemented by the committee, especially the projects and meetings
held in Eastern Anatolia, and the importance of effective
cooperation with universities, training and revealing scientists
was discussed.

Recalling the idea expressed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev in his historic speech at the 5th Victory Congress of World
Azerbaijanis held in Shusha,

“Of course, all of us—Azerbaijanis living in Azerbaijan—want
Azerbaijanis living abroad to be in close contact with their
historical homeland,” said the committee chairman.

He spotlighted the projects implemented in connection with
Azerbaijanis originally from Western Azerbaijan, currently living
in Eastern Anatolia, and meetings with them.

Thanking for the warm welcome, the guests expressed their
satisfaction with being in Azerbaijan, that this visit was of great
importance to them, expressed their gratitude for the support shown
to the visit, and briefed on the advantages of being carriers of
the same language, religion, and culture.

Rectors of various universities said that Azerbaijanis living in
the Eastern Anatolia region have made great contributions to
Turkish science and culture, and have become an integral part of
society without being subjected to any assimilation.

Members of the delegation emphasized the importance of the
projects and meetings implemented to date, and stressed the
importance of continuing fruitful partnership.

The meeting exchanged views on the creation of a unified
diaspora of Turkic-speaking states, further strengthening the “soft
power” of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, the intensification of the
relations of the diaspora committee with Azerbaijanis living in
Türkiye, the implementation of joint projects with universities,
and boosting the interest of Azerbaijanis living in Eastern
Anatolia in higher education.

During the visit of the committee chairman to the Kars and Igdir
regions, he met with the Azerbaijani community there, as well as
officials from both regions, as well as visited Kars Qafqaz
University, and got acquainted closely with the teaching and
student staff of the university.

In addition, the meeting recalled that the committee regularly
holds mass events in conjunction with diaspora organizations in
Türkiye on the January 20 tragedy, the Khojaly genocide and other
important days of Azerbaijan, and organizes large concert programs
on the occasion of holidays in various cities.

The meeting emphasized that thousands of Azerbaijanis, as well
as representatives of Turks and other peoples who love Azerbaijan,
participated in those events.

Besides, the meeting pointed out that a forum of Azerbaijani
youth living in Eastern Anatolia is planned in the near future.

The guests were told about the successful activities of the
Igdir Azerbaijan House and learned that the 31 Azerbaijani Houses
in 20 countries in total are an important platform that creates new
opportunities for strengthening the unity of Azerbaijanis living
abroad, preserving their native language and national customs and
traditions.

To note, that the delegation includes the head of the Igdir
Azerbaijan House Ziya Zakir Acar, the rector of Igdir University
Ekrem Gurel, the rector of Kars Qafqaz University Husnu Kapu, the
rector of Artvin Çoruh University İbrahim Aydın, the rector of Agri
Ibrahim Chechen University Ilhami Gulcin, the rector of Bolu Izzet
Abant Baysal University Mustafa Alisarli, the rector of Erzurum
Technical University Bülent Cakmak, the rector of Van Yuzuncu Yil
University Hamdullah Sevli, the rector of Ardahan University Ozturk

During the several-day visit to Azerbaijan, the Turkish
delegation is also expected to visit various regions of Karabakh
and meet with the staff of Garabagh University, one of the region’s
prestigious higher education institutions.

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