Head of State Committee for Refugees and IDPs meets new ICRC country representative

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 19 February, 2016

Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov has met Elena Ajmone Sessera, the new head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Azerbaijan and the ex-head of the ICRC office in Azerbaijan, Denise Duran. Congratulating Elena Ajmone Sessera on her new appointment, Ali Hasanov said her mission would be successful in development of relations between Azerbaijan and ICRC. The sides had comprehensive exchange of views on versatile questions, in particular, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, its history, the plight of refugees and IDPs in the country. They held discussions regarding the release of Azerbaijanis Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov, who were groundlessly taken hostage by the Armenian Armed Forces in Kalbajar region. Ali Hasanov in particular, said: “I have recently attended an international event in Geneva, where I met with the ICRC president solely for the issue of our hostages. I discussed the issue with him and he promised to step up efforts for it. I asked ICRC president to organize online communication between Dilgam and Shahbaz and their family members on Skype. Necessary work is underway to organize communication between the hostages and their family member”. In a meeting in which current and perspective issues were discussed regarding the activity according to the mandate of Azerbaijan Delegation of International Committee of the Red Cross, mutual cooperation between ICRC and the Azerbaijan government as well as other partners were also talked over, views were exchanged regarding the projects carried out by this organization along front line. At the meeting Ali Hasanov has stated that Azerbaijan is in the spotlight of the world. Over the past 12 years, Azerbaijan has developed rapidly and become one of the world's leading countries under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Our country is in the leading position in the world over the past five years, according to the growth rate of gross domestic product. Current tolerance in Azerbaijan living various people and nations in friendly atmosphere are cited as examples to the world. The Deputy Prime Minister saying our country is pursuing an independent policy emphasized that now Azerbaijan is in the centre of attention in the world. Today, we are not recognized as a country of oil and gas, but as a country realizing global projects and hosting essential events towards the solution of universal problems. We can show as an example “Eurovision” song contest, First European Olympic Games held in Baku for the first time, international dialogue forums and many other similar events. Ali Hasanov gave detailed information to the guests about Azerbaijani realities, Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the history of the problem and the status of refugees and internally displaced persons in our country. Noting that our country has faced with a serious problem as the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after the restoration of independence and no progress has been able to achieve for settlement of the conflict till now, Ali Hasanov has mentioned that he expressed his regret that world community and powerful countries does not take advantage of influence and pressure to aggressor Armenia and shut their eyes to the restoration of justice and 1 million 200 thousand of our compatriots are suffering from all of them. Deputy Prime Minister has stressed that UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their native lands. Armenia's aggressive policy has also been condemned in the decisions and resolutions adopted by OSCE, PACE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations. Unfortunately, these decisions and resolutions are still on paper. Ignoring the demands of the international community, Armenia continues its illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group which was created for the peaceful settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, regularly deal with this issue, but there is no consequence of their activities. Main reason for this is Armenia's non-constructive position and attempts to keep the conflict in a frozen situation. Ali Hasanov has also noted that this situation is very dangerous for the whole region. Therefore, international organizations dealing with the solution of the conflict for a long time and the leading countries of the world represented in the OSCE Minsk Group should ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and should be able to achieve the restoration of peace and justice in the region. Unless, these states should step aside and Azerbaijan and Armenia must solve this problem by themselves alone. Because these people have lived in the neighborhood for 200 years and they should live hereafter. Expressing gratitude for detailed information, the new head of the ICRC delegation highly appreciated the works to alleviate the plight of refugees and IDPs in the country, the development and progress she watched here.