IOM attaches ‘great’ importance to cooperation with Azerbaijani government

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Çap et 1615

Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 28 JULY, 2016

Regional director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the South and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia Argentina Szabados has said IOM greatly values its cooperation with the government of Azerbaijan as she met with the country`s Deputy Premier, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov. She praised Azerbaijan`s management of migration processes, saying this practice could serve as a role model for other countries. Szabados also applauded tolerance in Azerbaijan as well as transparent working conditions created in the country for foreign organizations. She noted the necessity of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the IOM. Ali Hasanov recalled Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev’s and President Ilham Aliyev’s meetings with the IOM Director-Generals at various times. He said these meetings discussed ways of deepening cooperation between the country and the organization. The Deputy Premier hailed the work of the IOM office in Baku, particularly humanitarian and development projects. “Azerbaijan is open for new projects of the IOM.” “After the restoration of independence we used professional experience and expertise of the IOM to build a legal framework for solving the problem of migration which was new for us at that time. Today Azerbaijan has joined international conventions, improved its national legislation to international standards and built a robust legal framework in this sphere. The government of Azerbaijan is interested in continuing and developing cooperation with the IOM,” said Hasanov. He said Azerbaijan was an attractive destination for migrants due to its economic advancements and the government`s effective policy to create new jobs and improve the living standard of refugees and IDPs. “Speedy development of the country has led to an increase in the number of migrants visiting Azerbaijan, so we still need to continue cooperation within the IOM in priority areas.” In the meeting, in which consequences of Armenia’s military aggression, the condition of refugees and internally displaced persons, work done in the field of improving their social, housing and living condition and other issues were dealt with in details, views on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its history and causes, policy pursued by the government of Azerbaijan to resolve the conflict, problem that has still remained unresolved due to non-constructive position Armenia, loyal attitude of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as some international organizations towards the settlement of the problem and other issues have also been exchanged. By emphasizing that our country has faced with a serious problem like Azerbaijan-Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after gaining independence no progress has been achieved to solve the problem up to now Ali Hasanov has expressed his regret that there is lack of implementation mechanism of the decisions adopted by the world community and powerful organizations. He also emphasized that Armenia, which has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan lands, has plundered our national and cultural wealth and the entire infrastructure has been destroyed. Armenia ignores the resolutions and decisions adopted by the UN Security Council and other international organizations on the conflict. The talks of the OSCE Minsk Group for the resolution of problem have not yielded any results. Ali Hasanov stated that the President of Azerbaijan Republic carries out an independent policy and cooperates with all the countries. But why this problem is not resolved? No one responds to this question. But they should know that the justice will take its place sooner or later. The perpetrators of this injustice whenever will face with this problem. Ali Hasanov noted that, continuing to occupy the Azerbaijani lands, aggressive Armenia achieved nothing. For this period, the economy of Armenia appeared in even more difficult situation. For the last years, the Armenian people benefited nothing from the conflict, on the contrary, a lot of things lost. Azerbaijan after restoration of its independence has built a democratic, constitutional state. OSCE Minsk Group has been engaged in the settlement of the problem more than 20 years, but what could it achieve during these years? Nothing. They just come and go as tourists. Our President, state pursues a policy of peace. We don’t want war, we want a peaceful solution to the problem. But the patience of Azerbaijan Republic and people has a limit, but we have already lost our patience. The last events showed that if it goes like this, Azerbaijan will release its lands itself on the basis of international law. Deputy Prime Minister expressed: “We think that, this problem will end. Azerbaijani and Armenian people will continue to live in the neighborhood after the solution of the problem, as they have lived for 200 years before. If Armenians realize this quickly much, it is also good for them. If there was no Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, oil and gas pipelines would pass from the territory of Armenia and they would benefit from this. They have isolated themselves from this with this problem.” After the events occurred in April, providing information about his visit to Fuzuli, Aghdam and Tartar regions Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that, as a result of shelling of settlements of Aghdam, Tartar and Aghjabadi regions and civil population by the Armenians, 17 IDPs were martyred, totally 452 apartments resided by IDPs were damaged, 15 of them were completely and 437 of them were partially destroyed and 311 large and small livestock was perished. But despite of all this, local population continues to live in the native lands by believing the power of our army, sees and highly appreciate the strong support, attention and care of Azerbaijani government and personally Mr. President. All the houses affected as a result of the Armenian provocative attacks are restored at a higher level than before by the instructions of the President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev and all these works will be completed as soon as possible. In addition, all material damage caused to the IDPs was calculated. Bank accounts were opened for each of them and the funds were transferred to their private accounts. Ali Hasanov added in the end that, the President of Azerbaijan Republic repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan will never allow the establishment of a second Armenian state on its lands and Nagorno-Karabakh will never be independent. We want to solve the problem peacefully. At the same time, Mr. President stated: "We don’t want to see even Armenian mothers with tearful eyes." This is the humanism of Mr. President. Today Azerbaijan is open for the world, it is the most tolerant country. Representatives of all nationalities, religions live here as one family, in the conditions of peace and tranquility. Churches and synagogues function in Baku. Over the last ten years, the country has held two interreligious international conferences. Religious leaders almost from 160 countries participated in these events. Over the last ten years, Azerbaijan, quickly developing under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, has turned into one of the authoritative countries of the world. We are already recognized and accepted not as the oil and gas country, also as the country realizing global projects, accepting the important actions directed on 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. At the meeting, Ali Hasanov stated: "Today Azerbaijan has developed rapidly as a result of the successful policy of the President of Azerbaijan Republic Mr. Ilham Aliyev and has become one of the world's leading countries. Azerbaijan occupies an important place among the rapidly developing countries in UN documents. Current tolerance in Azerbaijan where the different peoples and nations live friendly is cited as example to the world. Today Azerbaijan is known and accepted as a country which implements global projects and hosts important events on the solution of human problems. 800 thousand refugees came to European countries having 550 millions of people in total. See what happens to those refugees in those countries. However, no one asks how does the President of Azerbaijan Republic which has 10 million populations Mr. Ilham Aliyev deal with 200 thousand refugees and IDPs? Today look at what's happening on the human rights in Europe". Mr. President has always stated in his speeches that, Azerbaijan has a very great experience in this field and European counties can also use this experience. Szabados hailed Azerbaijan`s great achievements despite the occupation of a fifth of its territory and the existence of more than one million refugees and IDPs. She lauded the conditions created for refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan thanks to efforts of President Ilham Aliyev. She expressed hope that her visit to Azerbaijan would contribute to cooperation between the country and the organization.