BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. A meeting with
members of the Azerbaijani community was held in Belgrade, Serbia,
bringing together diaspora representatives, officials, and members
of the local community to discuss ongoing initiatives and future
priorities.
According to the State Committee for Work with Diaspora,
participants raised a range of issues, proposals, and ideas aimed
at improving the organization and effectiveness of diaspora
activities.
The event was attended by representatives of both the
Azerbaijani and Turkish communities, as well as local participants.
It began with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Serbia,
followed by a minute of silence in memory of martyrs.
Leyla Hamzayeva, Head of a department at the State Committee for
Work with Diaspora, provided an overview of ongoing projects and
programs designed to strengthen ties among Azerbaijanis abroad,
promote national solidarity, and expand the global diaspora
network. She noted that Azerbaijani communities in different
countries play an important role in promoting the country’s
culture, conveying its message internationally, and supporting
national interests through their activities.
She also highlighted the Azerbaijani community in Serbia,
describing it as a stable and well-organized group built on mutual
trust, friendly relations, and shared national interests. According
to her, joint initiatives have contributed to the growing
visibility and influence of the diaspora in the country.
Gunel Babanli, head of the Azerbaijani Language and Culture
Center at the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Philology, spoke
about the unity of Azerbaijanis in Serbia and the center’s work in
teaching the Azerbaijani language and promoting national culture
and traditions.
Representatives of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Serbia, Gulnara
Mammadova and Orkhan Aliyev, also attended the meeting.
The discussion session focused on ongoing diaspora work, recent
achievements, and ways to further strengthen coordination and
engagement among Azerbaijani communities abroad. Participants
expressed appreciation for state support and highlighted continued
efforts to develop diaspora activities.
During the event, the medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan “For
Services in Diaspora Activities,” awarded posthumously to diaspora
activist Zarifa Alizadeh, was presented to her daughter. Alizadeh,
a well-known professor, musician, and community figure in Serbia,
was recognized for her long-standing efforts to promote Azerbaijani
culture in Serbia and the wider Balkan region.
The meeting also saw the election of a new Serbia representative
to the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis Living in Eastern
Europe.
The program concluded with a cultural segment.
According to the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, its
leadership and staff carried out around 100 visits to 30 countries
in 2025, holding meetings with thousands of Azerbaijanis and
foreign participants. The committee said these engagements continue
to support closer coordination among diaspora communities and
strengthen Azerbaijani national solidarity abroad.
