TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE OF “15-YEAR PATH OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNITY”

Baku,24 September,(AzerTAj)Dear Conference participants, I warmly greet you on the 15th anniversary of creation of the Azerbaijan Russian Community public association, and extend to all of you my best wishes.

It is over 170 years that hundred thousands of the Russian population who had to
connect their destiny with Azerbaijan for numerous reasons, fairly consider this
country their homeland. Throughout the past decades Russian community lived in
atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood, historically existing in Azerbaijan, in
the conditions of peace and tranquility, having, thus, kept their national-religious
customs and traditions, ethnic originality, religion and culture, and completely
integrated into our society. Today, it is impossible to present the multinational
Azerbaijan society without our Russian citizens.
With the sense of satisfaction I would notice that now the most number on Southern
Caucasus Russian community lives in Azerbaijan. Not casually that during ethnic
cleaning and deportation, carried out in 1988-1989 in Armenia against the
Azerbaijanis, thousands of Russian which have suffered from aggressive Armenian
chauvinism, also addressed our country for persistent residence. This is evidence to
regulation of international relations in Azerbaijan on civil norms and existing
ethnic-religious tolerance.
In Azerbaijan, it was not allowed negative events which have occurred after the
collapse of Soviet Union on the post-Soviet space concerning the Russian-speaking
population and Russian language, and neither was imposed any restrictions on
studying in this language. Now, in our country, as earlier, functioning are
secondary schools in Russian, Russian sections in the higher educational
institutions, the Baku Slavic University having rich scientific and pedagogical
tradition, and in Russian language are published and disseminated numerous
publications and literature of different orientation. Since this year, the Baku
branch of the Moscow State University has started functioning. It also became one of
noteworthy events of our political and scientifically-cultural life.
Today, in the independent Azerbaijan Republic, all citizens of the country,
irrespective of their language, religion, ethnic origin, are provided with all-round
political conditions to enjoy the rights and freedoms of the person. As other
peoples of our republic, the Russian population also, widely using these democratic
legal conditions, takes active part in the processes ongoing in the country, in
further strengthening of our state independence.

Dear compatriots!

The organization “Russian Community of Azerbaijan” for anniversary of which you have
gathered, within fifteen years of its activity has been in forefront of public
activity in realization of democratic legal reforms and construction of a free civil
society in our republic, has carried out noteworthy work in bringing to the world
community the truth about Azerbaijan, objective realities of our country. I am
convinced that your organization will bring in the years ahead worthy contribution
to the further strengthening of civil solidarity in our society, friendship and
brotherhood relations between the people, development of national diplomacy.
I wish each of you success on this noble and good path, health and happiness.



Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, September 22, 2008
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