Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / Azerbaijan's former ambassador to Iran, professor Alyar Safarli, suggests the establishment of a World Azerbaijanis' Diaspora University in Baku, Safarli said to Trend on 28 August.
There are 50mln Azerbaijanis in the world, with 35mln residing in Iran, 500,000 in Georgia. Some 8mln reside in Azerbaijan.
According to Safarli, in order to work with the world's Azerbaijanis at a professional level, specialists have to be trained and the training requires a University. Azerbaijanis residing in different countries should be attracted to study in the Diaspora University, he said.
" Iran's multimillion Azerbaijani population cannot come to Azerbaijan to study. Being called a nation uniting 50mln Azerbaijanis we should think about each Azerbaijani," the professor said.
A special state idea should to be developed to establish a Diaspora University to provide for studies in that area at a scientific level, he said
The State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad is dealing with Azerbaijani diasporas. The organization was established in 2002 under the order of former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev.