The celebration of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day has become a necessity and a spiritual need for all Azerbaijanis around the world. This special day is of great importance in terms of establishing relations between Azerbaijanis living in different countries and strengthening national unity and solidarity. This trend is particularly evident in European countries where Azerbaijanis live in compact populations. This is due to the consistent and purposeful activities of Azerbaijani diaspora organizations operating in those regions. Such initiatives play an important role in the civilized environment of Europe in terms of bringing together, organizing, and working together on public platforms of individual members of society. December 31 - World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day is currently celebrated by Azerbaijanis living in various countries around the world. This holiday is of special importance not only for those who are Azerbaijani by ethnicity, but also for people who were born and raised in Azerbaijan but currently live in other countries. Azerbaijanis have lived in the historical territories of Azerbaijan for millennia and have made significant contributions to the development of world civilization. As a result of wars, socio-political processes, and other reasons that occurred at various stages of history, some of our citizens were forced to leave their native lands and were scattered to various countries. As a result, the Azerbaijani people have formed an extensive diaspora network in various regions of the world. Currently, Azerbaijanis live in Russia, Ukraine, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Baltic region, Europe, America, and the countries of the East, and large Azerbaijani communities operate in those areas. In the final stages of the USSR's existence, the border marches of the Azerbaijani people on both banks of the Araz River, the breaking of barbed wire. The calls for unity, which were voiced day and night for weeks on the banks of the Araz, became a clear expression of this national will. The Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis became a symbolic expression of this desire to unite. The foundation of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day was laid in late December 1989, during the events of the destruction of the USSR-Iranian borders in Nakhchivan. At that time, the border posts that existed between North and South Azerbaijan were dismantled. At the same time, a Conference of Turkic-speaking peoples was held in Istanbul, and a decision was made to celebrate the solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world. On December 16, 1991, Heydar Aliyev, Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, considering the importance of forming the unity of world Azerbaijanis, declared December 31 the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. After Azerbaijan gained independence, December 31 is celebrated annually by our compatriots all over the world as the Day of National Unity and Solidarity. The main content of this holiday, founded by the national leader Heydar Aliyev, is the ideas of loyalty to Azerbaijani statehood, respect for national and spiritual values, national identity and devotion to the Motherland. In the subsequent period, consistent measures were taken to strengthen the solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world and enrich it in terms of content. The idea of solidarity of Azerbaijanis has not only remained at the level of a public call, but has moved to the level of practical action and become one of the main directions of state policy. Various initiatives have been implemented to strengthen ties between communities and increase opportunities for joint activities in the countries where Azerbaijanis live.
The First Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held in November 2001 under the initiative and leadership of Heydar Aliyev, defined the tasks ahead, gave a strong impetus to the process of close unification of Azerbaijanis around their national state - the Republic of Azerbaijan, and played an important role in the development of the idea of national unity. After the congress, the State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad was established, and the Law on State Policy Regarding Our Compatriots was adopted. The organization of our compatriots was further strengthened, and the idea of Azerbaijanis, which combines national, spiritual, and universal values, was widely spread among Azerbaijanis living all over the world. Thanks to the services of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, the ideology of Azerbaijaniism was created, which ensured the unity of our compatriots living abroad for the sake of the interests and benefits of our native Azerbaijan. This accelerated national self-awareness, stimulated the process of building a new and modern society, and ensured that the traditions of independent statehood and the ideas of solidarity strengthened their place in the national consciousness. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, continuing the political line of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, paid special attention to the development and coordination of diaspora activities. At the Second Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held on March 16, 2006, by the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev, new tasks in the field of diaspora building were identified, and the recommendations and instructions voiced in the President's speech formed the ideological foundation of the activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the new era. Over the past period, the process of organizing our compatriots living abroad has accelerated further. It is commendable that Azerbaijani intellectuals, scientists, and cultural and artistic figures living abroad have become more actively involved in building the diaspora. New Azerbaijani communities have been established in various countries, and measures have been taken to unite separate communities around a single center. At the meeting of the Coordination Council of World Azerbaijanis held in Baku in December 2008, a conceptual document defining the ideological, socio-philosophical, political and spiritual aspects of the unity of world Azerbaijanis - the "Charter of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis" was adopted. Azerbaijani communities have participated more actively in the socio-political life of the countries in which they operate, and have established relations with state bodies, political organizations, and the media. In the process of conveying the truths of Azerbaijan to the world community, influential politicians, public figures, and intellectuals from foreign countries have voluntarily participated in the defense of our national interests and have consistently worked to strengthen the influence of the Azerbaijani diaspora. Azerbaijani diaspora organizations have further expanded their cooperation with the diasporas of Turkic-speaking peoples. At the 1st forum of heads of Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora organizations held in Baku in March 2007, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, a joint action strategy of Azerbaijani and Turkish communities was adopted. In November 2007, at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan, our country hosted the second major international event - the XI Congress of Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation of Turkic States and Societies. These events have gone down in history as a vivid manifestation of the importance that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan attaches to the unity of the Turkic world. Azerbaijani youth living and studying abroad are increasingly actively participating in diaspora activities, making worthy contributions to the promotion of Azerbaijani realities and our rich cultural heritage, and the protection of our national and spiritual values. In accordance with the “State Program for Azerbaijani Youth”, the First Congress of World Azerbaijani Youth, held in Frankfurt, Germany in November 2010, was of particular importance in this regard. The 3rd Congress of World Azerbaijanis held in 2011 coincided with a new historical stage. Azerbaijan has strengthened its state independence, achieved significant achievements in the fields of economic development, building a democratic society, and international integration. In this regard, it is of particular importance that the congress be held in the economically and politically strengthened Republic of Azerbaijan. The 4th Congress of World Azerbaijanis, held in Baku on June 3-4, 2016, adopted important decisions that ensured closer unity of our diaspora and opened a new page in the history of the Azerbaijani diaspora towards national unity and solidarity. The 5th Congress of World Azerbaijanis - the Victory Congress - was held with great pride and solemnity in the city of Shusha on April 22, 2022. Unlike other congresses, this congress was organized for the first time in our liberated lands, demonstrating the historical Victory of our people to the whole world. Mr. President noted in his speech during the congress, "Today, we are holding the Congress of World Azerbaijanis in free Karabakh and free Shusha. The name of this congress is the Victory Congress, and this is natural. Because this is the first time since the historic Victory that Azerbaijanis around the world have gathered and held a congress, and in general, the name Victory is very fitting for our people. You came here on the road of Victory, the name of the congress is the Victory Congress. Currently, Victory museums are being built in various parts of our country, primarily in the liberated territories." Today, the activities of our diaspora are organized more actively and flexibly, and a new stage is being experienced in state policy regarding Azerbaijanis living abroad and in strengthening the unity and solidarity of our compatriots. This is due to both the economic and political strengthening of Azerbaijan, the strengthening of its status as a leading state in the region, and the growth of its international reputation, as well as the fact that work with Azerbaijanis living abroad has acquired a qualitatively new content and new tasks have been set. Currently, the Azerbaijani state is successfully implementing its tasks, such as protecting the human and civil rights of our compatriots living abroad as enshrined in international conventions, building an organized and effective community, and increasing responsibility for the fate of Azerbaijanis around the world.