POLITICS
UNHCR DELEGATION LED BY ASSISTANT HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES KAMEL MORJANE VISITS AZERBAIJAN
Delegation headed by United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane, visiting the South Caucasus, came to Azerbaijan on July 5. As AzerTAj correspondent informs, the guests, warmly welcomed in “Girmizi Korpu” border point in Gazakh region of Azerbaijan, went directly to the places of refugee dwelling. First, they visited refugee settlement for 126 families in Shamkir, then “Murovdag” camp in Khanlar, which was created with close participation and financial assistance of UNHCR. Some 270 families of refugees mainly from Kalbajar live in this camp. United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane spoke in front of refugees, expressed his sincere wishes to them. Then the delegation visited Barda region of Azerbaijan, where was welcomed by Head of the Executive Power of Barda region Elman Allahverdiyev who told the guests of living conditions of IDPs. Kamel Morjane informed that the purpose of the visit was to discuss the new program on future cooperation between Azerbaijan Government and UNHCR. The new program mainly stipulates a number of measures on improvement of living conditions of refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan. The delegation was acquainted with plight of refugees and IDPs living in camps in Barda. The guests expressed their confidence in the quick peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and in the return of refugees and IDPs to their homelands.Refugees and IDPs speaking on the assistance of international humanitarian organizations, expressed their gratitude to the delegation.Representatives of international humanitarian organizations, operating in Azerbaijan, State Committee on issues of refugees and IDPs, and officials from the Cabinet of Ministers accompanied the guests.Today the delegation will visit Sumgait and then Baku.***UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane with the accompanying delegation visited Sumgait, where were acquainted with the work implemented in the frameworks of “Barpa” (Rehabilitation) and “Tahsil” (Education) projects. The delegation visited as well hostels where 2900 IDPs are temporarily settled. Mr. Morjane was interested in repairs in the hostels and school for refugee children, which was reestablished with financial assistance of “Umid” (Hope) Humanitarian and Social Support Center. K. Morjane also acquainted with the problems of IDPs living in the territory of Sumgait Concrete-Mixing Plant.The guest was accompanied by Heads of Sumgait and Gubagli region Executive Powers Vagif Aliyev and Malik Isagov and other officials. ***On July 7, Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade received UNHCR delegation headed by the Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane.Welcoming the guests, Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the High Commissioner for assistance rendering to Azerbaijani refugees. Speaking on efforts of the Azerbaijani leadership in peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno Garabakh conflict, Mr. Rasizade noted that by WB experts’ estimation, a billion of investment is necessary to restore apartment houses, industrial enterprises and infrastructure destroyed by the Armenian Armed Forces at the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The Premier also informed on the on-going reforms in the economy of Azerbaijan.Mr. Kamel Morjane expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation of Azerbaijani governmental structures with High Commissioner. He asked Prime Minister to convey his best wishes to the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees also stressed the large merits of Azerbaijani government in solution of the social problem of refugees from other countries, who found a shelter in Azerbaijan. Speaking of the aim of his visit, he assured that he would submit to his leadership an overall report on plight of Azerbaijani refugees in order to attract international organizations’ attention to this problem.Vice-Premier, Chairman of the State Committee for refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov attended the reception.***On 7 July, foreign minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vilayat Guliyev met with the delegation of UNHCR led by Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees Kamel Mojane. Minister Vilayat Guliyev updated the guest on plight of the Azerbaijani refugees, the history and sequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Assistance of the international organizations, including of the UNHCR and other donor countries for Azerbaijani refugees have notably reduced, the Minister underlined. This causes certain problems. Despite this, government of Azerbaijan and personally President Heydar Aliyev are seriously engaged in the refugee problems. State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan has allotted huge amount to construct new settlements for refugees. But their problems connected with education, health and other issues still remain, the Minister said. The international organizations know the position of Azerbaijan related to peace way solution of the problem.