Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, met with a Turkish delegation, including the rectors of universities in the Eastern Anatolia region and the head of the Igdir Azerbaijan House.

Warmly welcoming the guests, Fuad Muradov stated 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.

Detailed information was provided on the positive results of the projects carried out by the committee, especially the projects and meetings held in Eastern Anatolia, and the significance of effective cooperation with universities, training and revealing scientists was discussed.

Recalling the statement made by President Ilham Aliyev, in his historic speech at the 5th Victory Congress of World Azerbaijanis held in Shusha, “"Of course, all of us —Azerbaijanis residing in Azerbaijan, want Azerbaijanis living abroad to be in close contact with their historical homeland," the Chairman of the Committee highlighted the projects implemented in connection with Azerbaijanis originally from Western Azerbaijan, currently living in Eastern Anatolia, and meetings with them.

The guests expressed their gratitude for warm welcome, and 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 the different universities stated that Azerbaijanis living in the Eastern Anatolia region have made significant contributions to Türkiye’s science and culture, and have become an integral part of society without undergoing any assimilation. Members of the delegation drew attention to the importance of the projects and meetings implemented to date, and noted the significance of the continuing fruitful partnership.

The meeting exchanged views on the establishment of a unified diaspora of Turkic-speaking states, further strengthening the "soft power" of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, the intensification of the ties of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora with Azerbaijanis residing in Türkiye, the implementation of joint projects with universities, and boosting the interests of Azerbaijanis living in Eastern Anatolia in higher education.

It was emphasized that during his visit to the Kars and Igdir regions, committee chairman met with the Azerbaijani community there, as well as officials from both regions, and 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. It was stressed that thousands of Azerbaijanis, as well as representatives of Turks and other peoples who love Azerbaijan, participated in those events. Furthermore, the meeting pointed out that a forum of Azerbaijani youth living in Eastern Anatolia is also planned in the near future.

The guests spoke about the successful activities of the Igdir Azerbaijan House and highlighted that the 31 Azerbaijani Houses operating in 20 countries in total are a significant platform that creates new opportunities for strengthening the unity of Azerbaijanis living abroad, preserving their native language and national customs and traditions.

It should be noted 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 Abant Izzet 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 Emiroglu.

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