Sadvakassova: Azerbaijani community in Kazakhstan actively participates in cultural diplomacy

There are about 100,000 representatives of the Azerbaijani community living in Kazakhstan, chairperson of the scientific and expert council of the APK (Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan), head of the Center for the Study of Interethnic and Interfaith Relations of the ASU under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aigul Sadvakassova told Report.

"The largest number of representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora live in the Almaty region and in the city of the same name. There are two active cultural centers in Astana - Azerbaijani and Turkish, which are part of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan," Sadvakassova said during a tour for foreign media of the APK's Friendship House.

According to her, the nearby ethnocultural center of Azerbaijanis "Khazar" and the Turkish center "Ahiska" in the Friendship House actively participate in the work of the Assembly.

"They conduct rich cultural and social activities, have their own republican associations, hold many bilateral meetings and joint cultural events. Our cultural associations [in the House of Friendship] perform an important mission of public diplomacy," she emphasized.

During the excursion organized by the management of the House of Friendship in Astana, it was noted that 23 ethnocultural associations are located there, and events of international and republican level are also held.

Its activities are aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan's identity and national unity, at solving common problems of preserving the traditions, languages, cultures of ethnic groups of Kazakhstan, forming interethnic tolerance and public harmony, integrating the efforts of ethnocultural associations in achieving the goals and objectives of the Assembly.

According to the APK, the Houses of Friendship of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan operate in all regions of the country. The Republican House of Friendship is located in Almaty. In total, 12 regional, 7 city and 13 district Houses of Friendship operate in the country.