Ali Hasanov, deputy Prime Minister, chairman of the state committee for refugees and commission for international aid, met March 14 with Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS).

Deputy Prime Minister told of the causes and results of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Azerbaijan leadership’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the problem. He provided information about Armenia’s ethnic cleansing policy, and measures to improve the living conditions of refugees and IDPs driven from their homes by the Armenian armed forces. Ali Hasanov expressed gratitude to UN agencies and other international organizations for providing aid for refugees and IDPs in 1994-1995.

A. Hasanov touched on some UN conventions, saying some of them are outdated.

Maria Calivis expressed satisfaction with the work that Azerbaijan Government has done so far to improve the standards of living of refugees. She pointed out that the Government took courageous steps by diverting oil revenues to improving the living conditions of refees and IDPs.

Gurban Sadigov, chief of the Cabinet’s department for refugees, IDPS, migration and working with international organizations was present at the meeting.