International conference on “Migrants and cities” was held in Geneva  

Opening the two days international conference held in Geneva of the Swiss Confederation on “Migrants and cities” in the framework of International Organization for Migration’s International Dialogue on Migration with the participation of 50 countriesDirector General of the IOM Mr. William Lacy Swing expressed his satisfaction for greeting the participants.  Talking about necessity of sensitive approach to migrationby every country which hasbecome specially pressing in XXI century the spokesman expressed his assurance that this conference will yield effective results.

Chief of the State Migration Service, II rank state migration service counselor Mr. Firudin Nabiyev made a speech at the conference. Service chief mentioned that the Republic of Azerbaijan faced with mass migrant flow since the end of 80s of the last century. People were forced from their homeland as a result of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. As a result of this more than one million refugees and IDPs settled in the territory of the country.

F.Nabiyev noted that refugees and IDPs were patronized with comprehensive care and attention of the Government of Azerbaijan as the main subjects of forced migration. As, all refugee and IDP camps in the country were revoked, 90 modern settlements and skyscrapers with modern infrastructures were constructed for refugee and IDP families in various cities and regions of the republic, the living conditions of 46 thousand family and about 230 thousand people were improvedaccording to “State Program for improvement of living conditions and increase of employmentof refugees and IDPs” approved by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Service chief added that currently, measures related to employment, education, settlement, medical, social supply of these people, especially towards resolving social andhousing problems of families who live in heavy conditions arecontinued by stages.

Specially emphasizing law infringement towards migrants on national, ethnic and religious base never happened in our country till today F.Nabiyev stated that inrecent years rapid socio-economic development in the Republic of Azerbaijan under the leadership ofPresident Mr. Ilham Aliyev, works done in the field of protection of migrants’ rights and freedoms, political stability, as well as geopolitical position of our country increased the number of people who migrate to Azerbaijan from different parts of the world. So, the Republic of Azerbaijan has turned from the country of origin to country of destination. Because respect to the human and civil rights and freedoms, rule of law and humanism principles are among the main priorities in Azerbaijan.

Taking into consideration the necessity of implementation unified state policy in the field of migration, improvement and development of migration processes’ regulation system, coordination of state entities’ activity in this field the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established according to the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev signed in 2007. The State Migration Service is engaged in issues of granting temporary and permanent residence permits in the Republic of Azerbaijan and relevant cards to foreigners and stateless persons, their registration, extending temporary staying periods of foreigners and stateless persons who come to the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as granting work permits to carry out paid labor activity in the country in the frame of “single window” principle applied in the management of migration processes from July 1, 2009. Besides, the Service participates in citizenship issues and determines refugee status.

Service chief also mentioned that ASAN service centers which is an Azerbaijani brand and currently is studied as an exemplary model by European countries were established in 2012 for the purposes of rendering of servicesto citizens in more qualitative, comfortable, new manner and by applying modern innovations, provision of civil satisfaction by state agencies. Several services are rendered at ASAN service centers by the State Migration Service too. As, applications for temporary or permanent residence of foreigners and stateless persons in our republic, as well as granting work permits to carry out paid labor activity in our country are accepted.

Stating State Migration Service will further improve successful cooperation with IOM which is one the leading organizations of the world in migration field, Service chief noted that Azerbaijan is eager to successfully fulfill duties set forward related with protection of migrants’ rights.

Conference concluded its work on October 27.