- Heydar Aliyev: “The main idea of the Azerbaijan’s independent state is Azerbaijani nationalism”
By Fuad Huseynzade
It is essential for the world’s Azerbaijanis to be united around a true cause. In order for the Azerbaijanis to come together, above all, there must be a unity of ideas. This is the main way to real unity. National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s ideal of Azerbaijan nationalism is an ideology that is important for the world’s Azerbaijanis to unite around a clear idea.
National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s programmatic speech at the First Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Baku in November 2001 actually explained the basics of the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism:
«We want Azerbaijanis living in different countries to live as they want as citizens of those countries. But they should never lose their national roots and nationality. These are the factors that unite us all. It is the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism that unites all of us and unites us. Azerbaijani nationalism means preserving one’s nationality, national-moral values, and at the same time benefiting from their synthesis and integration with universal values. Nationality is a source of pride for every person. I have always been proud, and I am still proud today, that I am from Azerbaijan. Every Azerbaijani should be proud of his nationality, and we should keep Azerbaijani nationalism alive.”
There is a need for our compatriots living in different countries of the world to show solidarity and strengthen their ties with the motherland based on the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism. Everyone should know that the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism, which inculcates the defense and preservation of the national and moral values of our people and organically combines the interests of the state and citizens, is a successful foundation for civil unity and a unified society in the country. The formation of the national development path of the Azerbaijani people is based on the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism. The implementation of this idea was carried out on the basis of the ideology of Azerbaijani Turkism.
The ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism is a means to achieve real independence, preserve and strengthen a single, indivisible Azerbaijan. The ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism includes several important components – language, religion, culture, national-spiritual values, traditions, ethnography.
However, the reality shows that a lot of work needs to be done in order to make wide use of the opportunities of our compatriots abroad, to realize their active participation in solving the problems that arise in various areas of the country’s life. In this regard, the promotion of the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism is relevant. By propagating this idea, useful work is being done in the way of organizing, uniting the efforts of our compatriots settled in different countries, giving their activities a purposeful character. The idea of Azerbaijaniism, which is very important in terms of strengthening national statehood, is the ideological foundation for the organization of the world’s Azerbaijanis. By propagating the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism, it is possible to achieve the solidarity of the world’s Azerbaijanis, to arm them at the ideological and political level, and to mobilize them for national interests.
Today, it is very important to promote examples of patriotism among our compatriots living both in Azerbaijan and outside Azerbaijan, and to unite them around one ideology. For this, the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism is the most important factor. The implementation of this idea was carried out only on the basis of the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism. National Leader Heydar Aliyev has done important work in the direction of integration of society, turning the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism into a leading factor of national solidarity. It was through the efforts of Heydar Aliyev that Azerbaijan’s nationalism gained the opportunity to be realized in practice, carrying an essentially real content. The National Leader always emphasized that the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism is a means to achieve real independence, preserve and strengthen a single, indivisible Azerbaijan. “The main idea of the Azerbaijan’s independent state is Azerbaijani nationalism”, said Heydar Aliyev, and by turning Azerbaijani nationalism into a national ideology, he achieved solidarity and integrity of the society, moral unity.
In his speeches, President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly called for the unity of our compatriots and the promotion of Azerbaijani nationalism. Currently, the reforms carried out by the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs and the steps taken to implement the tasks set in the field of diaspora are already showing positive results. In particular, with the support of the State Committee on Diaspora Work, the number of “Weekend schools” in foreign countries has been increased and teaching materials have been sent to them for the promotion of Azerbaijani nationalism. As a civil society, we also contribute to this field. Our goal is to contribute to the transformation of the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism into the main unifying factor among the Azerbaijanis of the world, to the strengthening of their national-spiritual unity.
For each of our compatriots, the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism is a national value. The implementation of this ideology plays an important role in order to bring the Azerbaijanis of the world together and unite them under a single roof. When National Leader Heydar Aliyev came to power for the second time, the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism rose to the level of state policy. Today, the ideology of Azerbaijani nationalism is applied in all state institutions and departments. As long as the Azerbaijani people and state exist, the idea of Azerbaijani nationalism will live on.
Fuad Huseynzade is the Chairman of the Public Union of Support of Journalists to Diaspora Activity.
