Academicians

AN IMPORTANT DIRECTION IN THE DIASPORA MOVEMENT: ORGANIZATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC DIASPORA

The diaspora movement in Azerbaijan took its first steps back in the 1980s, when tendencies toward openness and democracy began under the Soviet political regime. The creation of the 'Vatan' Society at that time created conditions for well-known Azerbaijanis living in different countries to visit our country and establish contacts. Compared with the Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries that had operated earlier, this institution was relatively more independent and opened the way for relations with world Azerbaijanis not only through cultural ties but on a broader scale. The path opened by the 'Vatan' Society gave impetus, alongside other areas, to the expansion of ties between writers and poets, artists and scientists and the Motherland. Nevertheless, although the scale of relations with the diaspora expanded somewhat, because of the limited freedoms granted to peoples within the empire called the USSR, it was not possible for Azerbaijanis living abroad to establish broad and consistent relations with their historical homeland.

The systematic and consistent organization of relations with world Azerbaijanis was formed after our country gained state independence. The elevation of the diaspora movement in our republic from the level of cultural relations with world Azerbaijanis to the level of state policy is a historic service associated with the name of the outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev. The order signed by this visionary genius on 16 December 1991, while he served as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, on the establishment of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis became an event of great importance in expanding relations with the diaspora during the period of state independence. After the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people returned to the leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1993, diaspora building in our country was placed at the forefront of the political agenda as one of the main tasks of the independent state. The First Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held at the initiative and under the chairmanship of President Heydar Aliyev, was the starting point of diaspora building in our country. The establishment, for the first time in our country's history, of the State Committee for Relations with World Azerbaijanis was another historic service of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the field of diaspora building. This work is now an organic part of the state policy of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. Thanks to the special attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev, relations with the diaspora in our country have reached the highest level. The holding of the Fifth Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Karabakh, in Shusha, the granting of honorary titles to active and well-known representatives of our diaspora, their encouragement with state awards, and the creation of Azerbaijani Houses that organize and regulate the activities of compatriots living abroad ensure that the diaspora movement in the modern period has acquired an organized character.

At the same time, the systematic establishment of ties with scientists, who have a special weight among our compatriots living abroad, and the organization of the scientific diaspora were among the important tasks ahead. From this point of view, the First Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad, held in Baku and Khankendi on 9-11 September 2024 at the initiative and under the organization of WAAS, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Science and Education, was an event of great historical importance carried out at the state level in the organization of the scientific diaspora. In particular, President Ilham Aliyev's congratulatory letter to the forum participants demonstrated that work with the scientific diaspora is one of the priorities of our independent state. The establishment of WAAS has caused work with the scientific diaspora to become one of the leading directions of our country's diaspora movement.

The First Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad formed, in the history of our science, the basic provisions of a historic mission: the creation of unity and solidarity among Azerbaijani scientists working in different countries of the world. This forum defined a program of action for relations between our scientists living abroad and our scientists living in Azerbaijan, their historical homeland. In this sense, the decisions of the First Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad are the strategy of the Azerbaijani scientific diaspora. This strategy illuminates and guarantees the building of a strong cooperation platform between Azerbaijani scientists living abroad and scientists working in the scientific institutions and higher education institutions of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan.

For all these reasons, the holding of the First Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad and the creation of an independent institution to organize the joint activity of scientists worldwide are remarkable events. We believe that WAAS will build strong and meaningful bridges between our country's scientific and higher education institutions and scientific diaspora organizations abroad, ultimately making major contributions to the development of Azerbaijani science. As the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, we consider mutual cooperation with WAAS at all levels useful for the further development of our science and declare our readiness to be represented in all scientific programs and projects of importance to our country.

We wish WAAS success in its work.

THE GLOBAL UNITY OF AZERBAIJANI SCIENTISTS

I have always taken a close interest in my compatriots engaged in scientific activity outside Azerbaijan and have been proud of them. For this reason, as early as 2017, we carried out certain work to collect necessary information about 530 scientists living abroad. In 2019, we created the website www.elmidiaspora.az and handed it over to the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan. One of my greatest wishes has been for Azerbaijani scientists living abroad to form a diaspora organization, unite around the idea of an independent Azerbaijan, on the one hand support our country's science-intensive problems, and on the other convey the truths about Azerbaijan to the countries and peoples of the world. I must admit that achieving this difficult and responsible goal was not an easy task...

When I received an invitation to the Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad held in Baku on 9-11 September 2024, and when I learned that the event was organized by WAAS, I was very pleased. I was also pleased because such an honorable, difficult and responsible work was led by Professor Masud Efendiyev and Bakhtiyar Sirajov, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, both of whom I greatly respect.

First of all, I would like to note that the forum, held with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora and organized by WAAS, was arranged at a very high level. The selected problems and topics were highly relevant in the context of scientific reforms being carried out in Azerbaijan. It was a source of pride to listen to compatriots working in leading scientific centers and universities around the world actively participating in discussions in various formats, bringing advanced international experience to Azerbaijan, and stating that they would not spare their support and assistance in these matters. What was observed was that every Azerbaijani scientist living abroad feels responsibility before the homeland for the development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, has gained full sovereignty over its territory after the solution of the Karabakh problem, and wants to repay their moral and intellectual debt in this work.

This was extremely gratifying. In a very short time, bringing together such a large number of Azerbaijani scientists living abroad around the unified idea of Azerbaijanism and directing them toward solving the scientific and intellectual problems facing our independent country is a major success. On this occasion, I express my deep gratitude to the leadership of WAAS, to every institution and organization that supported this work, and to all people who love their nation and state.

Of course, this is only the beginning; many important tasks lie ahead. I am confident that WAAS will organize this honorable and responsible work it has begun at an even higher level, with great love for the homeland, and will move confidently toward its goals.

I would also like to note that I consider it my moral duty both to support WAAS and take an active part in its work, and to help establish more effective relations among Azerbaijani scientists living in the country and abroad.