The Republic of Slovenia, located in the heart of the Balkans, is one of the countries where the Azerbaijani diaspora stands out for its active engagement, strong organization, and successful integration into local society. The meeting between representatives of the Azerbaijani community in Slovenia and staff members of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held in Ljubljana, was of particular significance in terms of strengthening the unity of our compatriots, creating new opportunities for cooperation, and promoting Azerbaijan’s national interests more effectively on the international stage.

The community meeting, organized by the Azerbaijani-Turkish Cultural Association with the support of the Committee, brought together Azerbaijanis, as well as representatives of various Turkic communities and members of the local public.

First, the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Slovenia were performed.

Leyla Hamzayeva, Head of Department at the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, welcomed the compatriots, speaking about the importance of these traditional community meetings. She highlighted the active role of diaspora organizations in Slovenia and their efforts to promote and protect Azerbaijan’s interests. She noted that Azerbaijanis living in various countries around the world make significant contributions to safeguarding the country’s national interests, accurately conveying historical truths to the international community, and promoting Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage.

During the meeting, participants watched a documentary featuring President Ilham Aliyev’s speeches, as well as video presentations about the activities of Azerbaijan Houses and Azerbaijani weekend schools operating abroad.

Taleh Gurbanov, Head of the Azerbaijan-Turkish Cultural Association in Slovenia, emphasized that Azerbaijanis in Slovenia operate in an atmosphere of unity and solidarity. He noted the important role played by the diaspora in strengthening friendship between the two nations and provided information about the activities and objectives of the organization he leads.

The meeting was also attended by Aydan Muradova, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Slovenia, with residence in Vienna, and Kamran Mammadov, Second Secretary and Consular Officer of the Embassy.

Participants showed great interest in an exhibition reflecting Azerbaijan’s culture and history, organized at the venue with the support of the Committee.

Following the discussions, a coordinator for Slovenia was elected to the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis Living in Eastern Europe.

Sharing their impressions of the meeting, members of the Azerbaijani community expressed their gratitude to the Azerbaijani state for the attention and support extended to the community in Slovenia. They expressed their hope that such gatherings, which contribute to expanding ties, strengthening unity around common goals, and creating new opportunities for future joint initiatives, would continue on a regular basis.

It is worth noting that the leadership and staff of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora carried out nearly 100 visits to 30 countries in 2025 alone and held meetings involving thousands of Azerbaijanis and foreign participants. These meetings and productive discussions contribute to bringing Azerbaijanis around the world closer together around the ideology of Azerbaijanism, strengthening national solidarity, and advancing diaspora activities to a new stage of development.