Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov outlined his country’s approach to humanitarian aid and international development cooperation at a conference marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the International Development Agency.
Bayramov said that Azerbaijan’s tradition of individual charity had developed into a systematic state policy as the country advanced and its state institutions grew stronger. He said this transformation was evident in the areas of humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
Education programs expanded
The Azerbaijani foreign minister said the continuity of this tradition was most clearly reflected in education. He noted that tens of thousands of students from countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America had studied at Azerbaijani universities since the second half of the 20th century.
Bayramov said this approach is now being continued through the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program. He said that, in addition to education programs for students from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement, efforts to train foreign diplomats are also continuing.
Bayramov said that more than 120 countries are represented among students who have previously studied or are currently studying in Azerbaijan, highlighting the scope of the country’s education cooperation.
Becoming a donor country
Bayramov said Azerbaijan’s emergence as a donor country was particularly significant because it took place while the country’s territory was under occupation.