POLITICS
AZERBAIJAN’S MINISTER OF LABOR MEETS WITH UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR
Fuzuli Alakbarov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, met April 9 with Bruno Pouezat, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations and Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Republic of Azerbaijan to discuss future cooperation.
Minister F. Alakbarov said Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan drove over 1 million refugees and IDPs from their homes. Moreover, 50 thousand Meskheti Turks fled to Azerbaijan because of the ethnic conflict. Although, it fueled social tension in the country, economic reforms carried out and oil strategy prepared and implemented after national leader Heydar Aliyev’s returning to power have turned Azerbaijan into the region’s rapidly developing nation. Unemployment has dropped to 7.7% since 1996 while the level of poverty has been reduced to 20.8%.
Azerbaijan has remained the world’s fastest growing economy for the past two years. The steps to develop non-energy sector in Azerbaijan, and ensure socio-economic progress in the regions are yielding fruits. Employment market is rapidly developing with 520 thousand jobs created for the past three years.
According to the Minister, two skills centers were established by the Ministry for those who seek to acquire a vocational skill and upgrade their current skills. The centers are set to offer vocational skills classes for 1200 persons per year. Minister said there are 150 able-bodied citizens in Azerbaijan. 150 thousand new persons enter the employment market every year. Most of them are students and secondary school graduates.
F. Alakbarov said the Ministry maintains close contacts with respective bodies of foreign countries and international organizations. He pointed out that the Decent Work Country Program of Azerbaijan has been developed jointly with the International Labor Organization. Azerbaijan became the first country in the subregion of Eastern Europe and Central Asia to sign a Decent Work Country Program.
The major objective of the Ministry is to reduce poverty through development of employment. Social rehabilitation program is being implemented to this effect.
Bruno Pouezat pointed out that UN is closely monitoring the situation in Azerbaijan, praising the socio-economic reforms and employment strategy implemented in the country.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged their views on the “Beautiful Azerbaijan Project”. UN highly assesses the efforts to preserve and restore architectural traditions of ancient Lahij.