Since regaining its independence, Azerbaijan has made remarkable achievements in nation-state building, consolidated its political, legal, social and economic foundations, and emerged as an undisputed regional leader in terms of economic power, democratic development and strengthened its position on the international arena. Such achievements have strengthened national unity within the country, enhanced solidarity among the Azerbaijanis of the world, encouraged our compatriots living in various states, and created grounds for sticking together for the sake of common national interests of Azerbaijan.

The 1st Congress of World Azerbaijanis was held in Baku on 9-10 November 2001 under the Decree of the Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, dated May 23, 2001. The Congress had an importance in respect of uniting of all Azerbaijanis living abroad, around the common objective,  the idea of a single Azerbaijanihood, and laid a foundation of qualitatively new stage in the  history of the Diaspora movement-  the stage of construction and organization. The congress had an impact on strengthening the national identity of our compatriots, increasing the organization and activity of Azerbaijani communities in various countries.

The establishment, in accordance with the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated July 5, 2002, of the State Committee for Work with the Azerbaijanis Living in Foreign Countries, the adoption, on Dec. 27 of the same year, of the Law “On a state policy regarding the Azerbaijanis living abroad” further stepped up the process of organizational development of world Azerbaijanis.

President Ilham Aliyev successfully continues the work of the great leader in this field. The next representative forum, held March 16 in Baku in accordance with the order of the head of state “On holding the 2nd Congress of World Azerbaijanis” on Feb. 8, 2006, became a new step in turning the Azerbaijani diaspora living abroad into a lobby and played an important role in bringing realities about Azerbaijan to the world community.

On 19 November 2008, President Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree on establishing a State Committee for Diaspora Affairs under the State Committee for Work with the Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries. On 19 December of the same year, a meeting of the Coordinating Council of world Azerbaijanis in Baku adopted the Charter of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

Representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations operating in different countries, the Azerbaijanis living abroad, including people of science and culture, public figures and businessmen came to Baku to attend the Third Congress of World Azerbaijanis, being held according to the Resolution of President Ilham Aliyev on the 20th anniversary of restoration of state independence of Azerbaijan signed on 21 January, 2011. The third Congress of the World Azerbaijanis was held in Baku on July 5-6, 2011.

It was indicated that according to the registration the 3rd congress was being attended by 579 out of 600 delegates from 42 countries and 211 guests from other 30 countries. The countries with the highest number of delegates and guests were the Russian Federation – 155, Turkey – 101, Ukraine – 49, Germany – 43, Georgia – 41, USA – 28, Kingdom of Sweden – 23, Kingdom of the Netherlands – 21, Israel – 17, Uzbekistan – 13, France – 12, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – 11, Canada – 10. In general, 1,872 people have been registered.

In addition, the congress was attended by 182 heads of Azerbaijani communities and associations operating in foreign countries.

The Republic of Azerbaijan was represented at the congress by 677 delegates and 405 guests. Representatives of all regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 677 delegates from state and government structures of the Republic of Azerbaijan, NGOs, scientific, educational, cultural and other creative structures and political parties and 405 guests, as well as 37 parliamentary deputies from 13 countries participated in this Congress.

The work of the congress, also attended by delegates from regions of the country, was covered by 37 media outlets from 21 countries, as well as 163 local media representatives.

At the end of the Third Congress of World Azerbaijanis a number of decisions were made. Among the accepted documents there are the general application of the Congress, application of congress to the world Azerbaijanis and to foreign parliaments about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The issue on the reorganization of the World Azerbaijanis Coordinating Council was accepted to be by the way of voting. The Congress decided to continue the activity of Council. The Presidium of the Council was abolished, and the Executive Secretariat was established. Ilham Aliyev has been appointed as Chairman of the World Azerbaijanis Coordinating Council as well as Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, and Nazim Ibrahimov was elected as executive secretary. The number of Coordinating Council members has been increased from 107 to 115.

Recommended literature:

1. Arzumanlı, Vaqif Minad oğlu. Azərbaycan diasporu : reallıqlar, qayğılar, problemlər: monoqrafiya / V. M. Arzumanlı ; elmi red. V. Həbiboğlu ; AMEA Beynəlxalq Münasibətlər İnstitutu. - Bakı : Qartal, 2001. - 800 s.
2. Dünya Azərbaycanlılarının III Qurultayı : Bakı. 5 iyul 2011-ci il / Azərbaycan Respublikasının Diasporla İş üzrə Dövlət Komitəsi ; tərt. L. Həmzəyeva [et al.] ; red.: N. Qurbanov, E. Miraləm ; bur. məsul N. İbrahimov. - Bakı : Adventa MMC, 2011. - 240 s.
3. Hüseynzadə, Fuad Abı oğlu. Dünya azərbaycanlılarının palitrası / F. A. Hüseynzadə ; red. N. Əliyev. - Bakı : Apostrof, 2016. - 436 s.
4. Dünya Azərbaycanlıları: məlumat kitabı / tərt. M. N. Bağıyeva [et al.] ; red. Q. M. Əliyev ; elmi red. Ə. M. Həsənov. I cild. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2006. - 424,[4] s.
5. 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.
6. Hüseynzadə, Fuad Abı oğlu. Azərbaycançılıq ideyası - dünya azərbaycanlılarının istinad mənbəyi / F. A. Hüseynzadə ; red. V. Zifəroğlu ; Azərbaycan Respublikasının Prezidenti yanında Qeyri-Hökumət Təşkilatlarına Dövlət Dəstəyi Şurası, Diaspor Fəaliyyətinə Jurnalistlərin Dəstəyi İctimai Birliyi. - Bakı : Apostrof-A, 2020. - 180 s.
7. Исмајылов, Исрафил Закир оғлу. Дүнја азәрбајҹанлылары XX әсрдә : мүхтәсәр очерк / И. З. Исмајылов. - Бакы : [s. n.], 1997. - 270 с.