A question of refugee and IDP was broadly discussed at the intergovernmental event held on the level of ministers of the UN member states.

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 07 December, 2011

The delegation headed by Mr. Ali Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Azerbaijan Republic, was on a business trip to Geneva to attend the intergovernmental event on the level of ministers of the UN member states organized by UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the date of December 7-8, 2011. On December 7, Mr. Ali Hasanov, head of the Azerbaijan delegation, made a speech at the intergovernmental event on the level of ministers of the UN member states dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Convention “On status of refugees” of 1951, 50th anniversary of the Convention “On the Reduction of Statelessness” of 1961. Talking about significance of the Convention “On status of refugees” of 1951 and the Convention concerning Statelessness of 1961, drawing attention to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Garabagh conflict and its grave consequences, Mr. Ali Hasanov stated that 20 % of our lands had been occupied and more than one million people had become refugee and IDPs as a result of military aggression against our country. Particularly accentuating an opportunity for improvement of refugees and IDPs’ life conditions created by political stability established, successful economic reforms carried out under the leadership of President of the Azerbaijan Republic, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Deputy Prime Minister gave inclusive information on projects and programs executed by our state for this kind of people. Mr. Ali Hasanov said that laws and normative acts had been adopted on abolishment of statelessness, solution to asylum seekers’ problems and migration processes, and necessary measures were taken for their execution. Azerbaijani citizenship has been given to 250 thousand Azerbaijani refugees driven out from Armenia by force of arms. Dealing with problems of improving living conditions of refugees and IDPs, Mr. Ali Hasanov notified that 12 tent camps existing in the country were abolished in 2007, 21 600 families, more than 107 thousand refugees and IDPs were moved to the newly established 70 modern settlements at the expense of funds allocated from the State Oil Fund. The poverty level among refugees and IDPs has decreased from 74 % to 18 %. While visiting our country High Commissioner Antonio Guterres has witnessed all these steps taken. We are sincerely grateful to the High Commissioner for his paying great attention to IDPs along with refugees and asylum seekers. Nevertheless, 400 thousand IDPs are still living in grave conditions in temporary resettlement sites. So, there is need for activity of donor countries, international organizations in this field. Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Ali Hasanov stated commitments assumed by the Azerbaijan Government, loyalty of our republic to extending relations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees and put forward numerous offers. Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Ali Hasanov stated: “Azerbaijan gives full measure for regulating the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Garabagh conflict under international law principles. Unfortunally, Armenia attemps to make a feeling of hatred take root in the region instead of building trust between our nations. Infrastructure has been completely destroyed in the occupied area of 20 % of Azerbaijan and civil population, nationality of whom is armenian, are accommodated by being brought from outside. In October, 2010 Field Assessment Mission of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs attended by representatives of the UNHCR once again witnessed such cases while visiting occupied Nagorno Garabagh and 7 adjacent regions being an integral part of Azerbaijan. We deem that this state is very dangerous for the region in whole. International organizations, leading countries of the world engaging in the solution of the conflict for a long term should achieve insurance of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, restoration of peace and justice in the region. The Azerbaijan Government will continue its cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in coming years.” At the event attended by 800 delegates from various countries, UN High Commissioner Antonio Guterres, Hilary Clinton, Secretary of State of the USA, ministers of the UN member states and heads of other delegations made a speech as well.