Javid Huseynov: "It is necessary to adopt measures to return the intellectuals, who left Azerbaijan in the first years of its independence, to the country"

It is no secret that in the first years of Azerbaijan's independence there has been observed a mass outflow of the intellectual potential of the country, said president of the American-Azerbaijani Council Javid Huseynov.

According to him, in order to ensure their return to the country, it is necessary to create professional groups to involve specialists in different areas.

"As is known, the United States, especially California, is the leading world center in the IT sphere. In this sense it is necessary to create professional groups on profiles, for the people, living there, to develop interest not only in associating themselves with their historical country but also a professional interest.I think this will strengthen our activity, especially, because Azerbaijan has a great demand in this sphere, despite the obvious development of the IT sphere in the country.

In this sense we can learn much from the Indian diaspora. For example, they implement projects in the United States, while creating software in India. Thus, they develop infrastructure inside India, attracting local programmers, engineers and other specialists.

I hope the ICT Ministry will help us to assimilate this experience in this sense", said Huseynov.

Asked whether the organization copes with the large Armenian diaspora in California Huseynov said there is a number of problems with them, as the most aggressive and radical part of Armenian diaspora live in this state.

"These are people who do not have any idea of Armenia, their ancestors left this country long ago and they grew up with the idea that Turks are enemies".

He noted that they do everything possible to prevent the events, the diaspora holds in California.

"We still try to actively cooperate with local powers, expand contacts. For example, this year our organization held meetings in the Californian Senate.

We try to expand the activity of the organization to cover other states. The main aim to work not only with congressmen on the high level but also with local powers", said Huseynov.

According to Huseynov, there are from 100,000 to 200,000 Azerbaijanis in California and of them most come from the South Azerbaijan.

"They are not so organized, as they associate themselves more wth Iran than Azerbaijan. In order to attract these people to the diaspora organizations, it is necessary to improve programs on the problem of self-consciousness.

The same problem exists among some people, who come from the Azerbaijan Republic, as about 95% of them are people who attend the events and start speaking Russia. I also received education in Russia, but I consider it disrespectful to speak in Russian at the event, attended by those who come from South Azerbaijan".

He stressed existence of both psychological and ideological problems and noted the need to overcome these barriers.

"For these purpose, our organization sets a goal to hold enlightening and cultural programs to raiser the awareness of our compatriots of that they are Azerbaijanis, not Bakuvians or Iranians or someone else", concluded Huseynov.

/Day.Az/