Today, the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis Worldwide is celebrated across the globe.

The Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis Worldwide is a rare example in global practice of how a nation that endured the collapse of an empire and the pressure of a totalitarian system managed to transform a historical rupture into a sustainable formula of national unity.

This day emerged after the fall of the Soviet regime not by decree from above, but through the will of society itself—as a conscious need to preserve the integrity of the people, wherever they may live. That is precisely why the Day of Solidarity has become a holiday that belongs equally to the state and to the citizens, uniting them within a single value-based space.

On December 31, Azerbaijanis around the world mark more than the end of the calendar year. They affirm their belonging to a shared Homeland—Azerbaijan. It is a day that erases borders between countries and continents, bringing people together around a common historical experience, a shared memory, and a shared responsibility for the future.

The meaning of this day goes far beyond festive symbolism. It reminds us of civic duty and transforms patriotism from a slogan into voluntary service. The Day of Solidarity does not divide people along ethnic or religious lines; it unites them around the state, the land of their ancestors, and the value of independence. Here, the individual “I” naturally becomes a collective “we,” and love for the Motherland acquires a practical dimension.

This day is especially significant as a moment of shared memory and shared pride. The ability to rejoice together in Azerbaijan’s achievements and, with equal reverence, to honor the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for their native land is one of the defining signs of a mature nation. This is what makes the Day of Solidarity a living social institution.

Today, the holiday is observed both in Azerbaijan and in every corner of the world where Azerbaijanis live. That is its strategic meaning: in times of trial, it enables the nation to remain not a scattered diaspora, but a unified whole—capable, when necessary, of becoming that very “Iron Fist” which embodies national will and state unity.

Ultimately, the Day of Solidarity stands as a formula for responsible citizenship. It is unity, cohesion, and mutual support. It is the readiness to open our arms together to friends and to defend national interests together in the face of threats.

With respect and devotion to Azerbaijan, and with gratitude to the land where we were born and raised, I wish that the new year become a compass for the future—a future in which peace, stability, the protection of children, and a caring attitude toward nature become conscious goals of society.

Professor Aygün Attar
Chairperson of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Friendship, Cooperation, and Solidarity Foundation