Date and purpose of creation

After gaining independence one of the main tasks facing the state is the organization of the Azerbaijanis living abroad, their involvement in the protection of the common interests of our country. The arrival of national leader Heydar Aliyev in power in 1993 as well as in other areas, has made a fundamental turning point in the establishment of Diaspora. Our nationwide leader meets with representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora in all foreign visits, interested in their problems and concerns, urged our compatriots to take an active part in the process of realizing the historic interests of our newly independent republic.
Over time, diaspora construction has become one of the priorities of the state policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main purpose of this policy, set by national leader Heydar Aliyev is to develop relations with the Homeland of the world Azerbaijanis, to preserve the national identity of our compatriots, to benefit from the diaspora's potential to safeguard our national interests, to expand our inter-diaspora relations and protect their cultural and political rights.
Taking into consideration the necessity to discuss the matters on strengthening the relations of countrymen all over the world with the Republic of Azerbaijan, to provide unity and solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis, strengthening and relating the activities of Azerbaijani communities, societies and the unions, Heydar Aliyev issued the decree about the First Congress of the World Azerbaijanis from May 23, 2001, aimed to implement this great ideology.
The First Congress of World Azerbaijanis, which was held in Baku on November 9 and 10, was the beginning of a major process in the history of Azerbaijan. 406 participants represented more than 200 different organizations of Azerbaijanis from 36 foreign countries and 63 guests participated at the Congress. More than 130 state and social organizations, scientific, cultural and other creative organizations, 25 parties, 702 representatives and 844 guests represented the Republic of Azerbaijan at the Congress.
I Congress of World Azerbaijanis was a great step and one of the most important events for the future on the way of unification of our compatriots abroad on common goal, common idea . The congress demonstrated the unity and solidarity of our compatriots around the idea of our national ideology Azerbaijanism. The congress proposed the idea of establishing a special state body to organize systematic work with our compatriots abroad and ensure the consolidation of national unity among our peoples. The idea belonging to national leader Heydar Aliyev served to accelerate the process of forming the Azerbaijani diaspora.
Prominent historical document-the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev “about establishment of the State Committee on the Affairs with Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries” from July 5, 2002 played a great role in coordination of the activity of Azerbaijan Diaspora and in supply of the ideological and political unity of world Azerbaijanis.
The establishment of the Committee gave the opportunity to take reasonable measures in solution of the problems of the kind and to centralize the activity of Azerbaijan Diaspora on implementation of national interests.
One of the most important events of the past period was the establishment of the State Committee on Affairs with Diaspora on the basis of the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad by Order No. 54 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 19, 2008. Contemporary, the diaspora concept becomes an essential element of international relations. The reality of our globalized world sets new tasks in the field of Diaspora building. Rapid integration processes among nations, the growing role of diaspora and lobbying organizations in international politics have made it a historic necessity for more broad-based activities in this area. Establishment of the State Committee on Affairs with Diaspora was precisely this necessity.
Establishment of the State Committee on Affairs with Diaspora expand opportunities for establishing direct cooperation with diaspora organizations of other nations and government agencies that directly responsible for the various countries.
In this sense, the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Establishment of the State Committee on Affairs with Diaspora " is worthy of being regarded as one of the brightest manifestations of the importance given by the Republic of Azerbaijan to the work of Diaspora.