ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, August 2. Young Azerbaijanis living abroad should play an active role in defending Azerbaijan's national interests in their countries of residence and use their knowledge and skills to counter disinformation campaigns targeting the country, Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov said, TurkicWorld's correspondent reports from the event.
He made the remark during the opening ceremony of the Seventh Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth in Zangilan.
Muradov noted that the foundations of Azerbaijan's state diaspora policy were laid by National Leader Heydar Aliyev. "In 2001, the great leader Heydar Aliyev invited Azerbaijanis living abroad to Azerbaijan. Following that congress, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora was established in 2002. In the National Leader's speeches, preserving Azerbaijani identity and promoting the Azerbaijani language always held a special place," he said.
The committee chairman stressed that preserving the Azerbaijani language is essential to maintaining the national identity of compatriots living abroad. "The Azerbaijani language is the foundation of Azerbaijani culture and national identity. Without this foundation, it is impossible to preserve national self-awareness," Muradov said.
According to him, the Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth, launched in 2018, has evolved into an important platform for Azerbaijanis around the world. "When we first launched this initiative, we did not expect the summer camp to gain such prestige within the diaspora community. Our goal was not simply to organize young people's stay in Azerbaijan, but to enhance their knowledge and skills and prepare the next generation of diaspora leaders," he said.
Muradov noted that participants will meet with scholars, diplomats, government officials, and prominent public figures, while also deepening their knowledge of Azerbaijan's history, culture, and diaspora activities.
He said that the concept of "diaspora youth" is not merely a new term but represents a new model of engagement. "We want you to leave this summer camp not only with good memories but also with a solid ideological foundation. You should not remain indifferent to disinformation campaigns against Azerbaijan in the countries where you live," he said.
According to Muradov, social media and digital platforms provide diaspora youth with extensive opportunities to communicate the truth about Azerbaijan to international audiences.
The committee chairman noted that one of the State Committee's key objectives is to encourage greater participation of young Azerbaijanis living abroad in the diaspora movement and to cultivate a new generation of leaders. "We want you to take the initiative. It is easy to criticize from the sidelines, but being part of the process carries real responsibility," he said.
Muradov stressed that the Azerbaijani state continues to strengthen its ties with compatriots living abroad.
He noted that this year's summer camp has brought together young Azerbaijanis from more than 60 countries, while representatives from 84 countries have participated since the project was launched. With the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, more than 800 projects are implemented each year, including forums for doctors, engineers, scientists, and cultural ambassadors.
The committee chairman said the state's primary goal is to support the professional development of young Azerbaijanis living abroad and create opportunities for them to contribute to the country's future. "We want you to receive a quality education, become accomplished professionals, and contribute to Azerbaijan's development in the future. Azerbaijanis living abroad remain a priority for the state, and this work will continue," Muradov added.
He also noted that visits to Shusha and other territories liberated from occupation will give camp participants an opportunity to observe the large-scale reconstruction efforts firsthand and gain a better understanding of Azerbaijan's development strategy and the ongoing transformation of the region.
