Delegation of Azerbaijan to take part in the 63rd annual plenary session of Executive Committee of Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 29 September, 2012

Activities carried out by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with refugees and IDPs and international humanitarian organizations acting in the country yield results, and the state has become a member of one more influential agency of UNO. Azerbaijan has already become the member of another influential agency of United Nations Organization - the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. According to the requirement of the Resolution dated December 19, 2011 of the United Nations General Assembly, vote was taken on April 26, 2012 in the United Nations Economic and Social Council and unanimous decision was made, by a majority of votes, in regard to selection of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a member of the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It should be noted that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has addressed a congratulatory letter to the Government of Azerbaijan in this regard and stated his great satisfaction for the said achievement. The letter appraised interest and resolution demonstrated by Azerbaijan for finding solutions for refugees’ protection and their hard plight, as well as receiving refugees and asylum seekers to its territory in accordance with its obligations under the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to Status of Refugees, to which Azerbaijan is a part since 1993. The High Commissioner noted in his letter that he was looking forward to greeting Azerbaijan as a new member in plenary session of the Executive Committee to be held on October 1-5, 2012. At the same time, Representative of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Azerbaijan Dag Sigurdsson delivered his congratulations to the Government of Azerbaijan in connection with very significant event as joining the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The representative evaluated this achievement as embodiment of high appreciation of efforts by the Government of Azerbaijan for the solution of problems faced by displaced persons. It was emphasized in the letter that UNHCR Executive Committee membership will allow Azerbaijan to make constructive contribution to increase of awareness about global refugee needs and meeting these needs, as well as to more active participation in decision making with respect to the processes for settling the problems of refugees and forced displacement. At the same time, it has been noted that political and economic position of the Government of Azerbaijan in regard to protection of refugees, IDPs and stateless persons allows to hope for more successes and achievements in this sphere. The Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established as an agency in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. According to the requirement of the United Nations General Assembly, states that are members of UNO and demonstrating interest and resolution for the solution of problems of refugees and IDPs, are selected to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, though established by Economic and Social Council, functions as a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly, and reports directly to the General Assembly. The 63rd session of the UNHCR Executive Committee will start on October 1, 2012 in Geneva, Palace of Nations. 87 members will be represented, as well as non-members of the Executive Committee, the UN agencies and influential international organizations and non-governmental organizations will take part as observers at the session which will last a week. High-level delegation of our state will also join the plenary session to be held for the first time after the selection of Azerbaijan as a full member of the UNHCR Executive Committee. The delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister, chair of the State Committee for Deals of Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov will include the chief of State Migration Service - Firudin Nebiyev, head of the Division of the Cabinet Office for deals of refugees, IDPs and migration - Gurban Sadigov, chair of Social Development Fund of IDPs - Ayaz Orujov. Murad Nejefbeyli – Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations will also participate in the event.