After Azerbaijan gained independence the diaspora building became one of the priorities of the state policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The purpose of this policy, laid down by the national leader Heydar Aliyev, is to develop relations between the Azerbaijanis of the world and their historical Motherland, preserve the national identity of our compatriots, use the potential of the diaspora towards more reliable protection of our national interests, to expand inter-diaspora ties, to protect our cultural and political rights. National leader Heydar Aliyev met with representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora in all his foreign trips, took interest in their problems and concerns, and called on our compatriots to actively participate in the process of realizing the national interests of our new independent republic.

On May 23, 2001, national leader Heydar Aliyev signed a Decree on holding the 1st Congress of World Azerbaijanis taking into account the need to further strengthen the ties of our compatriots living in different countries of the world with the independent Republic of Azerbaijan, ensure unity and solidarity between them, as well as strengthen and coordinate the activities of Azerbaijani communities, societies and associations.

The 1st Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held in Baku from 9 to 10 November 2001, entered in the country's history as the beginning of an important process. 406 participants and 63 guests from 36 foreign countries attended the 1st Congress. 702 delegates from 25 political parties and 844 guests from more than 130 state and public bodies, as well as from scientific, educational, cultural, and other organizations represented Azerbaijan at the Congress.

The 1st Congress of World Azerbaijanis was a big step towards uniting our compatriots abroad around a common goal and a common idea and at the same time one of the most important future-oriented events. The congress laid the foundations for the unity and solidarity of our compatriots around the concept of Azerbaijanism, which is our national ideology. At the congress, the idea of establishing a special state institution was put forward to organize systematic work with our compatriots abroad, to ensure the strengthening of national unity among our compatriots. This idea, which belonged to national leader Heydar Aliyev, served to accelerate the formation of the Azerbaijani diaspora.

On July 5, 2002, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev signed the Decree On the establishment of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad. The decree was an important historical document of exceptional importance from the point of view of the organized coordination of the activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora, ensuring the political and ideological unity of the Azerbaijanis of the world. The establishment of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad allowed us to take significant steps towards eliminating problems in this area and centralize the activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the direction of realizing our national interests.

One of the most important events of the past period was the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora on the basis of the State Committee on Affairs of Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, dated November 19, 2008. In our modern era, the concept of diaspora has become an important element of international relations. The realities of our globalized world pose new challenges for Azerbaijan in the field of diaspora building. The rapid integration processes between peoples, the growing role of the diaspora, and lobbying organizations in international politics have necessitated the development of this direction. This need led to the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora expanded the possibilities for creating direct cooperation with diaspora institutions of other peoples and state agencies directly responsible for this field. In this sense, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora should be considered as another clear manifestation of the importance that the Republic of Azerbaijan attaches to the work of diaspora building.

The 44-day Patriotic War of 2020 occupies an important place in the history of our people. During this war, our compatriots abroad, regardless of their political views, country of residence, place of work, demonstrated national unity and supported our state with all their might. In addition to sending humanitarian aid to the army, wounded soldiers, families of martyrs, civilians affected in frontline areas whose homes were destroyed, as well as the families of the victims, they also showed great organization and dedication in conveying the truth and fair voice of our people to the whole world.

The spiritual unity of the Azerbaijani diaspora, founded by the National Leader, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, has reached its highest peak today.

Recommended literature:

1. Azərbaycan diasporu : böyük yolun başlanğıcı / Xarici Ölkələrdə Yaşayan Azərbaycanlılarla İş üzrə Dövlət Komitəsi ; tərt.: N. Qurbanov, R. Hüseynov, E. Miraləm ; bur. məsul N. İbrahimov. - Bakı : Çaşıoğlu, 2006. - 208 s.
2. Azərbaycan diasporuna dövlət qayğısı / Azərbaycan Respublikasınin Diasporla İş üzrə Dövlət Komitəsi; bur. məsul N. İbrahimov. III kitab / tərt.: N. Qurbanov, E. Miri. - III nəşri. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2009. - 284 s.
3. Əliyev, Zaur Bilal oğlu. Beynəlxalq münasibətlərdə diasporların rolu / Z. B. Əliyev ; elmi red. M. Ənsərli ; "Diaspor və Lobbi" Elmi Araşdırmalar Mərkəzi. - Bakı : Nurlan, 2001. - 150 s.
4. Əliyev, Zaur Bilal oğlu. Türkdilli xalqların diasporları / Z. B. Əliyev ; elmi red. Ə. M. Tağıyev ; red. E. Miraləm. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2009. - 296 s.
5. Babanlı, Yəhya Məmməd oğlu. Azərbaycan Respublikasının xarici siyasəti və diaspor fəaliyyəti: 1991-2011 : monoqrafiya / Y. M. Babanlı ; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov ; red. M. H. Seyidbəyli ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2016. - 328 s.
6. Azərbaycan diasporu: transmilli əlaqələr / M. H. Seyidbəyli, R. Cəfərova, X. C. Qəhrəmanova [et al.] ; elmi red. M. H. Seyidbəyli ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı: Avropa nəşriyyatı, 2018. - 200 s.
7. Həbiboğlu, Vəli. Heydər Əliyev və Azərbaycan diasporu /V. Həbiboğlu ; red. və ön sözün müəl. V. Arzumanlı; rəyçi Ə. Tağıyev, AEA Milli Münasibətlər İnstitutu. - Bakı: Qartal, 1999. - 120 s.