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Chief of State Migration Service had a meeting with newly-appointed head of the European Union Delegation in our country
Chief of State Migration Service, II rank state migration service counselor Firudin Nabiyev met Kestutis Yankauskas, newly-appointed head of the European Union Delegation in our country.
Congratulating Kestutis Yankauskas for his appointment chief of State Migration Service stressed the existing relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union. He mentioned the collaboration between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union which is not limited to trade and energy, but covers wide-scale areas as emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev. Cooperation in regulation of migration processes is one of these fields. Service chief drew attention to the works done regarding implementation of Agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union on readmission of persons residing without authorization, the first of its kind, which was signed on February 28, 2014 and entered into force on September 1, 2014 for the purpose of regulating return process of citizens residing abroad without authorization to the country in line with international law. It was informed that regular legal assistance rendered by the Service to the citizens readmitted within the agreement to ensure effective and sustainable socio-economic integration of those persons to the society.
Service chief recalled successful implementation of “Support to the professional development of the staff of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan” Twinning project which covered 2013-2015 and was funded in the framework of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument of the European Union. He noted realization of a number of projects by State Migration Service within TAIEX assistance instrument, as well. Discussion was conducted around the ongoing “Support to the Implementation of the Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan (MOBILAZE)” Project which was launched in 2016 in pursuant to “Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan, European Union (EU) and its Participating Member States” and the works done in various directions within the project were emphasized.
F.Nabiyev informing about activity directions of the Service mentioned further facilitated procedures related to determination of foreigners and stateless’ person status in the country and full provision of their rights and freedoms. Mentioning high level tolerance in our country as a primary factor affecting migration processes F.Nabiyev emphasized as a commendable fact that no violation of rights in relation to migrants on national, ethnic and religious grounds has been recorded so far. Migration Code which is in force since August 1, 2013 was emphasized as a novelty with its adoption for the first time in Azerbaijan as the single document establishing norms regarding execution of state policy in the migration field, regulation of migration processes and relationships in this area.
Emphasizing Armenian aggression towards Azerbaijan and our more than one million compatriots living as refugees and internally displaced persons F.Nabiyev mentioned that 6.2 billion manats, in total, were spent to address refugees and IDPs’ problems. Measures on employment, education, accommodation, medical and social provision of these persons are continuously implemented by Azerbaijani Government on step by step bases with respect to the principle of firstly dealing with families living in worse conditions. For this purpose, around a hundred modern settlements have been built.
Kestutis Yankauskas, in his turn, expressed his gratitude to the chief of State Migration Service for sincere meeting and congratulation. He stressed that he will mobilize all his efforts for the sake of further development of ties between the European Union and Azerbaijan. He mentioned that these ties based on mutual benefits, common values and reciprocal interest in all areas will not only be limited with energy areas but also cover transport, diversification of the economy and so on. He stated the European Union’s appreciation towards Azerbaijan as a stable and reliable partner in the region, its importance as a country establishing multicultural and secular society.
At the meeting opinion exchange was conducted on the other issues of mutual interest.