Mr. Walter Kälin who was assigned as a Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, in September, 2004, paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on April 2-6, 2007.

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 08 April, 2007

Mr. Walter Kälin met the state president Mr.Ilham Aliyev within his visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan on April 2, 2007. The problems of internally displaced persons in our country were discussed at the meeting. According to the program of the visit, the Mr. Walter Kälin met Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov. The reasons and consequences of Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Garabagh conflict, the works done in the field of peaceful solution of the problem by the government was discussed within the meeting. The information on measures taken for the improvement of refugees’ and internally displaced persons’ living conditions and the participation of international organizations in these measures was given to the UN representative. Mr.Ali Hasanov mentioned the support of UNO bodies and international organizations to refugees and IDPs especially in 1994-1995 with great gratitude and stressed that if this aid was not granted, in that case humanitarian crisis would have been in Azerbaijan. The guest was informed on cancellation of tent towns, their moving to new-built settlements funded by State Oil Fund in detail. The Deputy Prime Minister stated his attitude towards some UN Conventions, and noted that majority of them, specially conventions related with refugees became out-of-date, as there was not any concept as “IDP” in adoption period. Showing his gratitude for detailed information, Mr. Walter Kälin expressed his pleasure for the measures done by Azerbaijan government regarding refugees and IDPs. The guest stressed that Azerbaijan government improves the living conditions of these people by finding facilities. He noted that he welcomes the works done in the appropriate field of legislation, and is pleased with the organization of significance cooperation of the government with international institutions and generally, organization of international cooperation related with problems of refugees and displaced persons. Mr. W.Kälin stressed that the defects on international conventions will be taken into account. The delegations led by Mr. W.Kälin were in Sumgayit city, Garadagh, Sabirabad, Imishli and Bilasuvar regions and met the IDPs inhabited in these regions. In “Galagayin” tent camp of Sabirabad region the guest was informed about 2189 families had been inhabited here temporarily from the regions occupied by Armenian armed forced. During UN representative`s meeting with the internally displaced persons expelled from their native land, IDP`s, living in Jabrayil, Zangilan, Fuzuli regions, expressed their gratitude to the representative of UN Secretary-General for meeting them, as well as mentioned with regret that, the hopes to international organizations hasn’t been fulfilled in the direction of problem solution. Four Declarations by UN Security Council is still remaining unfulfilled. Pressure should be strengthened on a violator, appropriate sanctions should be implemented and rights of about 1 million people should be restored. It was mentioned that, Azerbaijan lost its 20 percent territory after admission to UN. One member of this organization encroached on other one. It was also stressed that, our independent republic takes measures to improve social and communal-social problems of IDP`s. But the greatest gift (blessing) for us is peace, the hottest place is our native land. International organizations, as well as UN should support justice, contribute the solution of the conflict. Walter Kalin stressed that, he intended to meet you and get familiar with your situation closely. Unlike the citizens of other countries damaged as a result of military wars, your unbearable situation is going on for a long time. I hope the conflict will be solved as soon as possible. This is also the desire of international organizations. I’ll prepare proposals on the basis of impressions of what I observed and will present to UN and to the Azerbaijan Government. I’ll also inform the UN secretary and Head Assembly, the Security Council of the Organization on your request and anxiety. During the visit to Azerbaijan the representative of UN met the ministers of foreign, internal affairs, economic development, education, health, labour and social protection of population, Head of State Committee for Family, Woman and Child Problems, Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), directors of international and national nongovernmental organizations. At the end of the visit Mr. Walter Kalin had a press conference on the summaries of the visit to Azerbaijan Republic in the office of UN Development Program.