Within the visit of the Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, to Moscow, a meeting took place in the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia with the heads and representatives of the Azerbaijan Diaspora organizations.
The meeting was attended by the Azerbaijan Consular General in Saint-Petersburg, Gudsi Osmanov, Trend Special Correspondent in Moscow reports.
Opening the meeting and speaking about the situation in Russia on migration, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu said that from January 15, 2007, a new law regarding the migration will come into force in Russia. On the other hand, the Russian Government passed an order which is very important from the point of view that the common migration questions are the internal affairs of the Russian Federation and it is natural that the Russian Government intends to bring this sphere into order.
In addition the Ambassador said that a large number of the Azerbaijanis live and work in the Russian territory and most of them are engaged in the trade. Naturally this question is also of concern for the Azerbaijan community. Azerbaijan President, within his recent visit to Moscow, discussed these questions at the high level and gave his concrete recommendations and tasks. Upon his return to Azerbaijan, a special commission was created which engaged in this issue.
According to Bulbuloglu, the primary goal of the Commission is to take actions and measures directed towards resolving the problems of the Azerbaijanis residing in Russia, and really demonstrate the care and attention that the Azerbaijan Government takes care about each Azerbaijani residing and living in Russia. I want to note that the Azerbaijani President pays a special attention to the problems linked with the Azerbaijanis. In relation with the work of the Special Commission, the Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, is on a visit to Moscow, said Mr. Bulbuloglu. In addition, he spoke about Ibrahimov meeting the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gregory Karasin and called it very productive. The Ambassador also underlined that the Azerbaijan Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Fizuli Akperov and the Head of the Commission, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov, will make a visit to Russia. Speaking about the goals of the Azerbaijani Dias
pora, Mr. Bulbuloglu regretfully noted that the Azerbaijani Diaspora has not formed yet from the worldwide standpoint and there are different directions and different structures. A number of them can not find a common view and do not wish co-operate with each others, and even a number of them bring harms to each others. Other Diaspora organizations also sustain such problems, but everybody unifies in the questions of national character and questions regarding the Nation. Unfortunately we can not unify in resolving a number of serious problems. Personally I am very disappointed by this issue because there are sharp questions of the national character. But there is a state Azerbaijan and it has an image, said Mr. Bulbuloglu.
Bulbuloglu also said that within 8-9 months after he arrived to Russia as an Azerbaijan Ambassador, the Russian President has made two official and two working visits to Azerbaijan, and the President of Azerbaijan arrived to Russia on several occasions. The Embassy implements many political and organizational affairs because many ministers and high-ranking officials from Azerbaijan often make visits to Russia. But the main fact is that we should accurately approach the processes taking place in Russia and select accurate directions in these questions. We should try to protect the rights of the Azerbaijanis and do our best in this respect, the Ambassador said.
Ibrahimov said that the main attention of the Azerbaijani Head is directed towards the Russian Azerbaijanis. If necessary, we can take relevant measures to prevent and resolve the problems of the Azerbaijanis residing in Russia, Ibrahimov said.
Ibrahimov expressed his contest with Bulbuloglu's opinion that there are different opinions within the Diasporas, and these problems also exist in other Diasporas worldwide. But it is very real that they come together in the questions if the national character. We pursue state policy to create and strengthen Azerbaijan organizations. We have exact policy that if there is no possibility for the joint activities of the two Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations, they will come together in the national interests of Azerbaijan and Azeri people. The Chairman of the State Committee said that it was a new stage in their policy.