Azerbaijan-Ukraine: new prospects of cooperation

In recent years the considerable activization in the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations is observed. It is expressed in the growth of economic indicators, in number of signed interstate agreements and in the organization of new welfare projects. The important role in strengthening of the relations between the countries is played by the work of the organizations representing the Azerbaijani diaspora in Ukraine. The deputy head of the Kharkov regional department of the Representation of the World Congress of the Azerbaijanians in Ukraine, the consul, the general of the Cossacks, the adviser of the President of the International Academy of the Cossacks, the Hero of the Cossack people Arif Ali ogly Abdullayev tells about carrying out of this work to us.

- Arif Aliyevich, how the dynamics of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations changed for the last time?

The relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan develop very actively. Ukraine is the second after Russia trading partner of Azerbaijan among the CIS countries. In recent years the general commodity turnover between the countries grew –it increased in 29 times in ten years and now makes about 1 billion 600 million dollars. There is an active work of the joint intergovernmental Ukrainian-Azerbaijani commission on issues of economic cooperation. And the number of important agreements was accepted after the last visit of President Victor Yanukovych to Azerbaijan on April 28, 2011, including the plan of events of full cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan for 2011-2015.

- What is the position of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Ukraine? What role is played by the activity of the Congress of the Azerbaijanians in Ukraine in strengthening of interstate cooperation?

The history of good-neighbourhood between Ukraine and Azerbaijan originates in ancient times and is reflected in creativity of art workers. It is enough to say that the great son of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko, being in Baku, very warmly responded about the Azerbaijanian friends.

It is known that when the person lives in the distance from the homeland for long time, he has the nostalgia – for the house, culture, customs to which he got used since the childhood. The Congress of the Azerbaijanians in Ukraine was created for the purpose of realization of these requirements. The congress is guided by the international principles, the democratic beginnings and traditions of humanity of the Azerbaijani and Ukrainian people in its activity. We hold the national and cultural events and create the conditions for satisfaction of our national and spiritual, sociopolitical, creative requirements and also the protection of our rights and interests.

The State committee in the rank of the Ministry of diaspora affairs is created in Azerbaijan. Its task is to coordinate the activity of the diasporas living in the different countries. And the President appointed the first ambassador of Azerbaijan in Ukraine Nazim Ibragimov as the chairman of this committee who has a wide experience of work, thoroughly knowing the diaspora problems.

Today the regional organizations of the Congress exist in all areas of Ukraine and also in the autonomous republic of Crimea. Together with the main organization they are the complete structure, carrying out the activity in the uniform direction and uniting a semi-million Azerbaijani community of Ukraine. The congress actively participates in the organization and carrying out of various cultural and charitable actions.

- What cultural and social projects were initiated by you in Azerbaijan and in Ukraine?

After the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, the opening of the monument to Taras Shevchenko in the city of Baku on June 30, 2008 became an outstanding event in cultural cooperation between our countries.

Also the monument to Taras Shevchenko was established in Azerbaijan in the city of Zaqatala on my initiative with big support of the chief executive of the city Asif Askerov. Soon its official opening is planned.

The idea of the creation of this monument is not only in honoring the memory of the great poet, but also to pull the culture of two states together. To remind everyone that the borders lined on the map shouldn't become an obstacle for communication and understanding between the people. Taras Shevchenko managed to bring up with the help of his works the whole generation of the Ukrainians, ready to defend freedom, democracy, independence of the fatherland, honor and advantage of the nation. And such qualities are appreciated above everything in the Caucasus.

My initiative was noted in Ukraine. For installation of this monument I was awarded by a rank of the Hero of the Cossack people of the International Academy of the Cossacks led by the President General Mikhail Yamnenko. And All-Ukraine civil organization “Narodna Rada” handed over the diploma “Person of 2009 year of Civil movement of Ukraine”.

Next year the installation of the monument to A.S. Pushkin is planned in the city of Zaqatala on behalf of the Cossacks. The monuments to Pushkin and Shevchenko in Azerbaijan become a symbol of the unification of the Cossacks of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Russia and friendship of the people of our countries.

Some social projects are carried out. One of them is the help to boarding school in the Kharkov region. On August 23, the day of release of Kharkov city from the fascist aggressors is celebrated. But this holiday is called simply as the City Day for a long time, forgetting that we are obliged for this holiday to our grandfathers and grandmothers who shed the blood for us. This day I always organize a banquet for veterans of the Great Patriotic War, render them the necessary help. People, unfortunately, lose the humanity more and more, ability to forgive and sympathize, revere the memory of ancestors and to respect the country. Every year the veterans become ever less, the whole epoch leaves, but memory will be eternally live.

- What is the story of your introduction in the Ukrainian Cossacks?

As I’ve already told, the International Academy of the Cossacks highly appreciated my initiative on installation of the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Azerbaijan. The Academy offered to enter the Slobozhansky Cossack Army. And I agreed with pleasure as the Cossacks always were as integrating force between many people. The Cossacks, keeping the traditions, adopted the traditions of those people with whom they cooperated. Thanks to it, I can solve problems of strengthening of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani friendship at new level. I planned some new projects where the Cossacks will play the major role as the supranational, integrating force, allowing to organize the cooperation between Ukraine, Azerbaijan and other CIS countries at essentially new level.