AZE.US
President Ilham Aliyev has sent a message to the participants of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, saying the country’s elders continue to play an important role in preserving moral values and maintaining continuity between generations.
In the message, Aliyev congratulated the participants on the opening of the congress and said the tradition of elderhood, rooted in the Azerbaijani people’s long-standing moral and cultural values, remains one of the central pillars of the national heritage.
He said respect for elders has always held a special place in both Azerbaijan’s oral folk tradition and written literature. As an example, he pointed to the Book of Dede Korkut, where respect for the advice and word of an elder is presented as one of the highest moral qualities.
Aliyev said Azerbaijani elders, guided by the nation’s historical traditions, continue to fulfill an important public mission. He described them as guardians of moral and spiritual values, as well as key figures in preserving intergenerational continuity, sustaining traditions of statehood and strengthening civic solidarity.
The president also linked the role of elders to the upbringing of the younger generation, saying patriotism and self-sacrifice passed on by older generations played an important part in Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War. He said the sense of national pride and love of country instilled by those who lived through decades of territorial loss and the pain of war helped shape a new page in the country’s modern military history.
Aliyev said elders remain active across all spheres of national life. Against the backdrop of growing global threats, as well as what he described as the harmful effects of globalization and social media platforms on national, family and moral values in many countries, he said the importance of the institution of elderhood in Azerbaijan has become even more visible.
He added that one of the main responsibilities facing elders is to raise young people in a spirit of patriotism, national identity and attachment to their roots.
In his message, Aliyev also said the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, founded in the late 20th century and uniting well-known public figures devoted to serving society, has come a long way and continues to contribute to the country’s development. He said the council takes part in public, political and humanitarian life, helps address pressing social issues and contributes to the education of the younger generation.
Aliyev said he believes the discussions held and decisions adopted at the 9th Congress will help improve the council’s work and further strengthen its role in Azerbaijan’s public and political life.
He concluded by wishing the congress success and its participants good health, long life and continued success in their public service.
AZE.US