POLITICS
UNHCR DELEGATION VISITS AZERBAIJAN
Delegation headed by United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kamel Morgan, 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 Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kamel Morgan 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 Morgan 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 Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kamel Morgan 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. Morgan 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. Morgan 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.