Baku: 'If we were able to protect our language during the years of colonialism and our ancestors entrusted it to us, how can we possibly fail to protect this language today? Foreign words that are brought to our language sometimes intentionally and sometimes not - they do not enrich our language and do not make those who use those words any smarter,' President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during an interview with local television channels on January 5, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the Azerbaijani language against the encroachment of foreign words. He stated that while it is beneficial to learn multiple languages, the use of foreign words should be limited to situations where it is necessary. He warned that the infiltration of foreign words can gradually corrupt the language and undermine national identity, which could eventually lead to a loss of statehood. The president urged the public to join in the effort to protect the language, expressing his confidence in the importance of this endeavor.