Azerbaijan: Seminar on Problems of National Minorities

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Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:05:24 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Azerbaijan: Seminar on Problems of National Minorities

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Nadir Kamaldinov <[email protected]>

Azerbaijan: Seminar on Problems of National Minorities


Seminar on Problems of National Minorities
 
April 26, 2000 the  Azerbaijan Fund of Democratic Reforms (AFDR) has
conducted a seminar on the subject of "Dialogue on Problems of
National Minorities" in Institute of International Relations of
Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. In the seminar participated more
than 60 persons. Among participants were both political and public
figures, such as: Vagif Arzumanli, director of Institute of
International Relations AS of Azerbaijan, Zardusht  Alizadeh,
co-chairman SDPA, Ali Masimov, president of Fund of Development of
democracy, Ulvi  Khakimov, president of Fund of National Democracy,
Rasim Musabekov, independent politician, Sedaget Kerimova,
editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Samur", Nadir Kamaldinov, director
of Resource Center for National  Minorities and members of many
public, youth and political organizations, representatives of cultural
centers of the ethnic minorities and embassies accredited in
Azerbaijan and others.
 
The president of AFDR  Razi Nurullayev has notified the audience that
they conducted the same seminars in  Lenkoran and Cuba. He spoke that
in  these regions the activity of the participants was higher, and
they  exhibited large interest in conducting such measures. Because
even, they can tell about the problems accumulating by decades. Under
the words of the president of Fund, all these expressions by the
participants will discover their bright reflex in the book, which is
making dispositions for issuing at the end of May. Further, Razi
Nurullayev has appeared with one offer and has asked participants to
render assistance in a  realization of this offer. He spoke, that the
Fund designs the project for issuing one weekly newspaper in 32 pages
under a title "Elin Sesi" (Voice of the people) and shortly will begin
negotiations with the interested funds for rendering the material
help. He has pointed out ones more, that this title had taken from the
decree of the ex-president of Azerbaijan Abulfaz Elchibey N 212 "About
the state help for progressing of culture and language, security of
the rights and freedoms of the national minorities, small peoples and
ethnic groups dwelling in the Azerbaijan Republic", issued September
16, 1992.
 
The lecturer in a seminar was the director of Institute of
International Relations AS of Azerbaijan Vagif Arzumanli. He
encompassed very vulnerable parts of a problem and somewhat backlog
lezghins, when has told,  that they have Dagestan Republic. The editor
of the lezghin newspaper "Samur" Sedaget Kerimova was very much
offended and disagreed with his judgment. She said: "Mr. Vagif, is
very insulting if all scientific Azerbaijans so thinks. I want to
tell, and let everyone learn, for lezghins there is one state -
Azerbaijan". Nadir Kamaldinov also has marked, that it is impossible
to separate lezghins from Azerbaijans. "Living  in Azerbaijan lezghins
consider Azerbaijan as their Native land and they are the full
citizens of Azerbaijan. To speak that their Motherland is Dagestan and
they are newcomers is short-sighted and not ethically".
 
It was pointed out, that for building the civil society including all
peoples dwelling in this Republic, it is necessary to resolve only
socio-economic problems. Without developed economy it is impossible to
resolve any problem, because everything on the finance. Ali Masimov
has pointed out that it is not necessary to accuse anybody in change
or treachery. If the lezghins-teacher sees, that on other side of
boundary his colleagues receive 130 dollars, and he - 30  dollars,
certainly, he will go there and will be in large insult on the state,
where there was no chance for meliorating the material necessity.
 
Rasim Musabekov told about policies of foreign countries concerning
ethnic groups. In particular,  he underlined necessity of writing of
one word for the national passports, "Citizen of Azerbaijan". It
practices in many developed countries and people dwelling in these
countries, never have dissents of concerning the  equal or unequal
rights. Everyone should be subject to the laws of the state and have
the equal rights.
 
With Best Regards,
 
Nadir Kamaldinov,
Director of Resource Center on National MInorities
Address: 90/2 B. Safaroglu, Baku City, 370009,
Azerbaijan Republic,
Tel/Fax: (994 12) 97 34 57; (994 50) 328 83 26
E-mail:       [email protected]    
[email protected]
 
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