BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 19. The national solidarity and diaspora issues were in the spotlight at a meeting in Greece.
This was reported by the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan following the meeting between the committee chairman, Fuad Muradov, and compatriots living in Thessaloniki as part of his visit to Greece.
According to the information, the committee chairman and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Greece, Arif Mammadov, first got acquainted with the activities of the Azerbaijan House here and viewed the exhibition dedicated to October 18, Independence Day.
The meeting held at the Azerbaijan House included an exchange of views regarding the work done, the reconciliation process, and communication between members of the diaspora.
At the community meeting with compatriots living in Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas, videos were shown of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's speeches on the historic victory of the Azerbaijani people. The work done in the direction of the development of the Azerbaijani diaspora, the strengthening of national unity, and the preservation of national and moral values was discussed.
The event began with the playing of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan. The dear memory of martyrs who died for the freedom and territorial integrity of the homeland was commemorated with deep respect.
Chairman of the "Gala" Greece-Azerbaijan Friendship Society and head of the Azerbaijan House in Thessaloniki, Rashid Mammadov, briefed on the organization's activities and expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani state for the support extended to the community's initiatives.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan Arif Mammadov highly appreciated the community gathering, as well as the role played by compatriots living in Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas in strengthening solidarity between Azerbaijan and Greece. The ambassador also highlighted the state's care and attention toward Azerbaijanis living abroad.
In his address, the committee chairman extended warm greetings to compatriots and highlighted the care shown by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva toward Azerbaijanis living abroad. He noted that this support creates significant opportunities for the further strengthening of the diaspora and national solidarity. Furthermore, he drew attention to the historical significance of October 18 - the Day of the Restoration of Independence. Compatriots residing in Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas were provided with details regarding the committee’s systematic work with Azerbaijani communities across 70 countries, as well as the specific aspects of the diaspora roadmap tailored for each individual country.
The community meeting proceeded in an atmosphere of mutual exchange of ideas. Questions from compatriots were answered, and proposals were put forward regarding the more effective organization of community activities, the implementation of new initiatives, and the expansion of diaspora relations.
In addition to compatriots, the local public representatives, as well as members of the local Georgian and Russian communities, attended the meeting. Greek participants and Azerbaijanis living in Greece highly valued the effectiveness of the community gathering, noting that the Azerbaijani community in Thessaloniki further strengthens the friendly relations between the two countries.
Rashid Mammadov was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the State Committee on Work with Diaspora for his successful diaspora activities.
There are currently 32 Azerbaijan Houses across 21 countries worldwide. The Azerbaijan House in Thessaloniki, which has been active since 2017, is one of them. The State Committee on Work with Diaspora provides all these centers with the necessary resources.