VALEH HAJIYEV: "ARMENIAN STATE EXISTS AT THE COST OF DIASPORA AND LOBBY, WHILE OUR STATE BACKS THE AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA"

Today.Az
politics/48994.html
Nov 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Economy of Armenia is in a bad state today and it is possible to say
that the state budget of this country is formed at the expense of the
Armenian diaspora, said deputy chairman of the state committee for
work with Azerbaijanis, residing abroad, Valeh Hajiyev, commenting
on the decision of the Armenian president to create the Diaspora
Ministry on the basis of previously operating state committee for
contacts with diaspora.

"Perhaps the decision to create the diaspora ministry in Armenia
is connected with the fatigue of the Armenian diaspora and lobby in
support of this country and intention to intensify the development
of a new diaspora at the expense of a new structure.

Comparing Armenian diaspora with Azerbaijani, he said the development
and strengthening of Azerbaijani diaspora has already been recognized
by Armenians, as success, attained by our compatriots abroad in the
sphere of the propaganda of Azerbaijani realities, is obvious.

According to him, Armenian diaspora has a 100 year history, while
Azerbaijani diaspora is young.

"Attention to the creation of Azerbaijani lobby and development of
Azerbaijani diaspora started to be paid only with Heydar Aliyev’s
coming to power and this attention strengthened under Ilham
Aliyev. owing to this care, the Azerbaijani diaspora has turned into
an effective power. And though we have much to do, the young diaspora
is competing the Armenian, which has a longer history.

He said this allows us to be more optimistic about the future. Armenian
state exists at the cost of diaspora and lobby, while our state backs
the Azerbaijani diaspora.

"Here, I would like to stress great attention to the problems of
diaspora paid by the head of our state. For this reason, people,
including students, intellectuals and other public representatives,
actively join this process. In the result, both Armenians and the rest
are obliged to admit that when there is a strong Azerbaijani state,
there will be strong Azerbaijani diaspora. This is inevitable",
concluded Hajiyev.