Baku: Fuad Muradov, head of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora, recently held a meeting with Krsat Zorlu, Deputy Chairman of Trkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and head of the General Directorate for Relations with Turkic States. The meeting also included Temel Akyrek, Deputy Head of the Directorate, and Cengiz Ayg¶r, head of the Azerbaijan Office of the International Union of Democrats (UID).

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Muradov provided an overview of the international projects spearheaded by the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs. He emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Trkiye are rooted in historical ties, mutual trust, and strong friendship. The political will and joint efforts of Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been instrumental in elevating these bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, further strengthening relations across various sectors, including diaspora activities.

The meeting highlighted ongoing projects aimed at promoting Azerbaijan's values and communicating its realities to the international community. These initiatives also focus on uniting Azerbaijanis abroad and coordinating diaspora activities. To this end, 33 Azerbaijani Houses operate in 21 countries, including several in Trkiye. These centers aim to unite the Azerbaijani community, preserve national heritage, and strengthen Azerbaijan-Trkiye relations.

Krsat Zorlu underscored the importance of expanding cooperation among Turkic-speaking states and increasing joint initiatives. He highlighted the role of digital technologies in uniting and coordinating Azerbaijanis abroad, facilitating information exchange, and strengthening cooperation around shared goals. Zorlu also commended the projects and programs developed by the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs in this area.

The discussions during the meeting were productive, featuring an exchange of views and proposals for future cooperation, as well as concrete opportunities for collaboration.