Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Rovshan Rzayev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to Azerbaijan Zakari Gross on November 12.
There was an exchange of views on Armenia’s policy of aggression, elimination of its grave consequences, the current situation with the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the return of refugees and IDPs to the territories liberated from occupation.
The French diplomat was reminded once again that Armenia pursued a policy of ethnic cleansing and occupation in 1988-93, making more than a million Azerbaijanis refugees and IDPs. These people, who were expelled from their homeland, lost their homes and jobs, and for many years temporarily settled in places - tents, railway cars, underground excavations, unusable and unfinished buildings, administrative buildings where there were no normal living conditions. The Azerbaijani state identified the solution of the problems of refugees and IDPs as a priority of social policy.
Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, purposeful and consistent measures are taken to improve the living conditions of refugees and IDPs and increase their employment. First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva pays special attention and care to our compatriots in this category. So far, the living conditions of about 320 thousand IDPs have been improved, and the number of new residential complexes and neighborhoods built for this purpose is increasing every year.
It was noted at the meeting that the Republic of France recognized the territorial integrity of our country, and as a member of the UN Security Council, voted in favor of four resolutions providing for the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories they occupied back in 1993. At the same time, it was emphasized that there is a concern over the unilateral position of France, one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, contrary to its mediation mandate. It was noted that it is unfortunate that the Armenian lobby in this country influences the state policy of France.
It was noted at the meeting that the implementation of the measures outlined in the statement signed by the heads of state of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 10 to end the armed conflict in Karabakh will allow Azerbaijani IDPs to return to their historical lands and ancestral homes there. The Azerbaijani government will ensure the return of IDPs to their permanent residential places in the periods to be determined soon. Post-occupation restoration of Jojug Marjanli village of Jabrayil region, Shikharkh settlement of Tartar region is shown as an example of measures to be taken in this field.
Zakari Gross thanked for the warm welcome. The diplomat positively assessed the end of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which began on September 27 and lasted until November 10, in terms of restoration of security in the region, and expressed satisfaction with the opportunity for Azerbaijani IDPs to return to their native lands. He also noted that several times before, the French delegations got closely acquainted with the living conditions of Azerbaijani IDPs in the settlements where they lived. Emphasizing that there are positive traditions in French-Azerbaijani relations, Zakari Gross expressed confidence that relations between our countries and peoples will continue on the basis of those traditions.
Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed at the meeting.
