The history of the Committee To provide national unity, unification of all the Azerbaijanis in the world around common interests turned to be the main duty of the state establishment after Azerbaijan gained its independence. Implementation of such an important duty in the country recently received its independence depended on the solution of some ideological, political, social-economical problems. Mobilisation of the national potentiality about the world and its direction towards the common purpose are the main conditions to preserve and develop the state, thus great works done in this sphere. Formation of the Diaspora of Azerbaijanis spread over the world, the establishment of lobbyism, turned to one of the priority directions of the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This means coincidence of the state policy of the republic with national interests. The Azerbaijanis of the entire world accept the Republic of Azerbaijan as the offspring of national-historical progress, the symbol of national ambition and the Motherland. Continuity of the state and national interests was a kind of revolution in social consciousness after the soviet period and a new stage of the national progress. All the abovementioned based on great prestige of national leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev among the Azerbaijanis in the world as the founder of the state methodology and national ideology. In the first years of its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan under his leadership officially declared itself the supporter of the interests of world Azerbaijanis and state systematic work carried out with Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries. During the visits to foreign countries, played great role in world integration, economic-cultural development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and real establishment of our independence, the national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev met with our countrymen, interested in their problems, gave important advices, joined our embassies to their affairs, invited our countrymen to the social, economical and cultural life of our country. Those meetings, carried particular importance in national-cultural unification of our countrymen, address of the President to Azerbaijan people in December 31-on the day of solidarity of Azerbaijanis over the world, and in this connection, measures taken in our republic and in foreign countries, played decisive role in solution of the priority matter declared by Heydar Aliyev-the formation of our Diaspora as an organised force and also in determination of the directions and the perspectives of the activity of lobbyism. The ideological basis of the national unity-the idea of azerbaijanism is formed by the genius. The important paragraphs of this idea providing cultural unity, common faith and activity and devotion to the motherland of all the Azerbaijanis in the world, found their conceptual reflection in "the address of the national leader Heydar Aliyev to Azerbaijan people for the year 2001, new century and new millennium". That historical document, reflecting conceptual evaluation of the past and today of our people, generalising our national evaluations, reflecting national ideals also determined the perspectives of the work with the Azerbaijanis of the world. Prevention of historical memory and heritage, the development of mother tongue, the extension of its use, prevention of cultural and ethnographic peculiarities, national ethics and morality, devotion to national ideals, supply of political-economic interests, necessity of world integration preserving national appearance and culture found their reflection in the address and the speech of the politician. Organisation of Azerbaijanis since the first moments of its independence carried ideological and historical importance. To achieve this purpose it was necessary to establish ideological-political base of Azerbaijan state, to form strong belief in its economical power and political authority. Implementation of this idea Heydar Aliyev started taking into consideration the abovementioned facts. Formation of the historical traditions of Azerbaijan and establishment of its political base as a part of a perfect ideological system played particular role in formation of the national consciousness of state system establishment. The national consciousness of state system establishment proved itself as unique ideological conception at late 20th and early 21st century. Unification of the world Azerbaijanis is based on the abovementioned ideology, the author of which was Heydar Aliyev. Azerbaijan state, revived by great efforts of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, turned historical and political shelter and leaning point of all the Azerbaijanis in the world. Taking into consideration the necessity to discuss the matters on strengthening the relations of countrymen all over the world with the Republic of Azerbaijan, to provide unity and solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis, strengthening and relating the activities of Azerbaijani communities, societies and the unions, Heydar Aliyev issued the decree about the First Congress of the World Azerbaijanis from May 23, 2001, aimed to implement this great ideology. On November 9th and 10th of the same year Baku witnessed the First Congress of the World Azerbaijanis. This process entered the history of Azerbaijan as the beginning of a great process. 406 participants represented more than 200 different organisations of Azerbaijanis from 36 foreign countries and 63 guests participated at the Congress. More than 130 state and social organisations, scientific, cultural and other creative organisations, 25 parties, 702 representatives and 844 guests represented the Republic of Azerbaijan at the Congress. The First Congress of the World Azerbaijanis was turning point in the process of organisation of our fellow citizens. Realisation of this historical event by Heydar Aliyev gave start to more centralised and dynamic activity of Azerbaijan Diaspora. Each of the measures taken by Azerbaijan provided active participation of our compatriots in the realisation of the national interests. We may proud that world Azerbaijanis started to gather round national self-consciousness and the general idea of azerbaijanism, independent state and national-cultural values. In his speech at the Congress, the national leader Heydar Aliyev pointed out the necessity to settle some duties. To strengthen the activity of Azerbaijan communities he suggested to establish a special state organ and determined more concrete ways for realization of the abovementioned historical mission. Prominent historical document-the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev 'about establishment of the State Committee on the Affairs with Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries' from July 5, 2002 played a great role in coordination of the activity of Azerbaijan Diaspora and in supply of the ideological and political unity of world Azerbaijanis. The establishment of the Committee gave the opportunity to take reasonable measures in solution of the problems of the kind and to centralise the activity of Azerbaijan Diaspora on implementation of national interests. National leader exactly appreciated the social-political situation in the sequence of the historical processes and considered national unity of Azerbaijanis to be a very important duty. The achievements of the past period prove wisdom of Heydar Aliyev. One of the main spheres of Diaspora establishment is working out and implementation f the state policy concerning Azerbaijanis living abroad. This policy has been realised by the purposeful activity of Heydar Aliyev for many years. The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "about the State Policy on Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries" dated December 27, 2002, creates great perspectives to our compatriots and presupposes their unification for national interests of our country. This law predetermines legal principles that provide the opportunity to settle the unique strategy with the purpose to increase the state care in the development of Azerbaijan Diaspora and to get definite achievements in this sphere. The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "about the State Policy on Azerbaijanis living in Foreign Countries" proves that the Republic of Azerbaijan is the provider of national unity and progress of the world Azerbaijanis. Taking this Law into force determined the basis of the activity of the state organs related with its implementation. Main duties of the Committee The purpose and the duties of the State Committee are reflected in the "Regulation about the State Committee on the Affairs with Azerbaijanis living in Foreign Countries" confirmed by the decree # 780 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan from August 28, 2002. According to that Regulation, the State Committee is a central executive organ that proves the implementation of the state policy on the affairs with the Azerbaijanis living abroad, extension and development of the relations with them, coordination of the activities of the state organs and non-governmental organizations. The Committee carries out its activity together with the other central and local executive and municipal organs, diplomatic representations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries, non-governmental organizations working with Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries and the individuals. The Committee provides organizational, informative, material and cultural assistance to Azerbaijanis living abroad, the organisations and mass media established by them for the purpose to contact with their historical lands, to study, preserve and develop the mother tongue and national-cultural values. The main duties of the Committee are the follows: To help Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries to protect rights and freedoms, to preserve and develop their national entity, to study and wide application of mother tongue according to the generally accepted principles and norms of the international law, to the international contracts supported by the Republic of Azerbaijan, the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the legislation of the foreign states; To provide favourable conditions for Azerbaijanis living abroad to create and develop close relations with the state organs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and non-governmental organisations and also provide with correct information about the internal and foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, about the economic, social and cultural life in the country; To join Azerbaijanis living abroad in economical, social and cultural development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in political life of the state and the society, also in establishment and development of mutually favourable relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and other states; According to the international legal regulations, to help Azerbaijanis living abroad to realize their right to establish national-cultural autonomies and social organisations; To systemize national ideas and national-cultural values serve for national unification and solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis, to provide their spread among the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and compatriots living in foreign countries; With the help of the state organs to aid the cultural centres, cultural-enlightenment organisations, libraries, archives, museums, theatres, musical ensembles and creative collectives of Azerbaijanis living abroad; To popularize necessary information among Azerbaijanis living abroad about the establishment of the independent, the legal and the secular state and the democratic society and about social- economic, communal-political and cultural development carried out in the Republic of Azerbaijan; To involve Azerbaijanis living abroad and other countrymen in protection of the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, strengthening and popularization of the national state establishment and to use their possibilities; To involve Azerbaijanis living abroad to the process of economic reforms carried out in the Republic of Azerbaijan and to create favourable conditions for them to invest in Azerbaijan and to function independently in foreign countries; To participate in preparation of the projects of normative legal acts that determine the rights and the duties of the Azerbaijanis living abroad in the territory of Republic of Azerbaijan; To aid in mutual correlation between Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries, to support their organization, to provide the relations of the established social, cultural and other unions with the Republic of Azerbaijan; Corresponding to the principle of protection and preservation of human rights determined by the international documents, to support Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries to provide their national and citizenship rights; to work out favourable system of the activities with related structures of the country of Azerbaijanis settlement and to aid in the solution of the problem; To aid participation of the representatives of relating state and non-governmental organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the important measures held by Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries; To involve well disposed to Azerbaijan Diasporas in popularization of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the world and protection of the interests; To study, generalise and practise the experience of other states in creation and implementation works with the Diaspora. Rights of the committee To apply the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Cabinet of the Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan on propositions about preparation and perfection of normative legal acts on Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries; For the purpose of solution of matters under the authority of the Committee to receive the necessary information and references from the central and local executive organs and diplomatic representations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries; Within its powers to adopt the decisions the implementation of which is obligatory to central and local executive and municipal organs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the individuals and the legal enterprises; In accordance with the legislation, to carry out negotiations with related organs of the foreign countries and the international organisations on matters entrusted to the Committee; Within its powers to hold the conferences, meeting, seminars, exhibitions and other measures; To carry out information and publication activity about the Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries; To carry put its duties to establish, re-establish and liquidate definite organisations under the Committee in accordance with the legislation; With the purpose to carry out the affairs with Azerbaijanis living abroad, to give the instructions about workers newly-appointed to diplomatic representations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; To involve the professionals and the experts against the contracts for the purpose to investigate he problems on the responsibilities of the Committee; To establish the commissions, coordination boards and the boards of experts, also working groups on the affairs with Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries; In accordance with the legislation to organize mass media, special bulletins and other publications ; To participate in preparation of mother tongue manuals, definite educational programs and means schools and other centres of the Azerbaijanis living abroad; On the matters under its power, to give consultations and explanations of the methodical and instructional character. International relations of the committee The Regulation of the State Committee on Affairs with the Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries does not suppose branches of the Committee in foreign countries. Address of the committee Address: Baku, Samed Vurgun str., 42 Phone: 493-10-54; 493-28-69; Fax: 498-61-87 E-mail: info@diaspora.gov.az Web site: www.diaspora.az