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International event dedicated to World Refugee Day was held
With joint organization of State Committee on Deals of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Issues, State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Representation of UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Azerbaijan an international event devoted to June- 20 World Refugee Day was held.
Deputies of Milli Majlis and representatives of diplomatic corps operating in our country participated at the event. The Representative of UN High Commissioner on Refugees in Azerbaijan Dag Sigurdson stressed the importance of celebrating World Refugee Day. Later on video-message of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi was demonstrated. In the message it was stated that every year on June 20 UNHCR celebrates World Refugee Day, brings into attention conditions of families forced to leave their homelands due to war or persecution. UNHCR is endeavoring to find glimmer of hope reflecting international community’s strive for solutions to end moral torture that refugees are facing. Information on refugees is disseminated in media every day, children, mothers and fathers hopelessly struggling to survive violence lose their lives. UNHCR views 2016 as a turning point in terms of activities toward solving refugee problems. This year has to be the year of collective pledge to help millions of people and to end conflicts forcing people to leave their homes. In the message it was emphasized that world leaders shouldn’t remain as passive observers, because lives of many people has been lost in vain. Issue of finding solutions to help refugees should be thought over seriously.
Later on a short video were demonstrated on World Refugee Day acted by goodwill ambassador of UNHCR miss Kate Blanchett and a film devoted to care provided for refugees, internally displaced persons and persons seeking political asylum by our state, donor countries and international organization in last 20 years.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chair of State Committee on Deals of Refugees and IDPs Ali Gasanov making a speech at the event stated that nowadays refugee problem in the world reached critical limit. He mentioned that the situation in Europe is very tense; it is clearly seen in mass media. In general, nowadays this problem reached culmination point in the world. Azerbaijan state set special system and mechanism for handling refugee and IDP problem. Thus, this problem was not regulated simply. Great leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev did big works towards the solution of refugee and IDP problem in our country. Europe can utilize this practice if wishes to do so.
He said that refugee, migrant and IDP problems ever existed in the world. This problem was present in all times as long as human society existed. However this problem started to expand after II World War. Thus, the number of conflicts grew after the II World War. Therefore UN has adopted Convention related to the status of Refugees and by this way, intended to demonstrate to world leaders, leading states that this problem is deepening. Number of conflicts grew even after that. There are conflicts which has not since 1950-1960s been solved. As the number of conflicts grew, the number of refugees and migrants also started to rise simultaneously. After the collapse of USSR new conflicts have emerged. After the fall of socialist block the number of conflicts in the world increased twice. IDP problem existed before that time, but refugee and migrant problem was not such severe. IDP problem turned to severe case through last 30 years, especially after the collapse of USSR. In 1992 UN has adopted rules in order to regulate IDP problem in the world. Nowadays there are conflicts in 42 countries of the world, and more than 60 million refugees - IDPs of which 40 million contains internally displaced persons. We raised this issue repeatedly in all UN events. If the number of IDPs in the world exceeds 40 million today, then there is a need to adopt a Convention for regulating them. Though some regulatory documents exist, it is still not enough.
Conflicts also emerged among the countries gained independence after the collapse of USSR- Nagorno Karabagh conflict between Azerbaijan –Armenia, conflicts in Georgia, Moldova, Central Asia has occurred. In the end of first and beginning of second decades of XXI century more violent conflicts have started, particularly in Arabic countries, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and other countries. Meanwhile, the number of countries conflict zone increased even more. The number of refugees protracted as a result of Syrian war is more than six million. This problem reached very critical point. Leading states of the world are seeking different ways for handling this problem.
Ali Gasanov while talking about Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict brought into attention that this problem was launched in 1988, which that year the last 250 thousand Azerbaijanis residing in Armenia were expelled by Armenian chauvinists and new refugee problem appeared in Azerbaijan. He highlighted that nowadays we have one million 200 thousand refugees and IDPs as a consequence of invasion of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. No concrete steps were taken by OSCE Minsk Group for solving this problem since the date of its establishment. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stressed in his speeches that in case Armenia’s fascist regime does not face reality, Azerbaijan will liberate its territories in any way based on international law. The only reason for failure of resolving the conflict is non-constructive position of Armenian ruling regime which came to power over this conflict. Unacceptability of existing status-quo with regard to the conflict was pointed out. Heads of Minsk group co-chair countries also declared unacceptability of existing status-quo. As the President of Azerbaijan stated, Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ resolute prevention of sabotage committed in the front line by Armenian troops on April 2-5 of this year once more proved that we are capable to release our occupied territories.
It was brought to attention that Armenian regime is traitorous and treacherous. Recent appeals commenced in Armenia against Russia for its objective position regarding the resolution of this conflict prove this. In Erevan was erected a statue of one Armenian who served fascist regime during II World War. This once more disclosed inside of Armenian regime. The President of Azerbaijan is in favor of peaceful solution of this conflict. Head of our state said that we don’t want see mothers-sisters in tears again, we don’t want to see even armenian mothers in tears. Look, this is the position of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. But look at the position of Armenian President. Few years ago Serj Sarkisian at the meeting with armenian youth said: we invaded Nagorno Karabakh, you, will invade mountains of Aghri. What can this be named?
Ali Gasanov highly appreciated activity of international organizations offering humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan and thanked them. He underlined that in the beginning of 1990s assistance of humanitarian organizations was crucial for Azerbaijan which faced serious situation.
Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Azerbaijani government has spent 2.5 billion manats of the budget for solving social problems of IDPs. State Oil Fund has allocated 1.9 billion manats and 94 modern settlements were built for IDPs at the cost of that allowance. International humanitarian organizations have allocated 1.4 billion US Dollars for Azerbaijan. These organizations closely cooperated with Azerbaijan government, seriously followed the legislation of Azerbaijani state.
Ali Gasanov emphasized the importance of combining endeavors for eliminating causes of refugee and IDP problem.
Dag Sigurdson, the representative of UN High Commissioner for Refugees whose term in office came to an end, stated that the problems can be solved with cohesion, fight against xenophobia and joint endeavors. He mentioned importance of increasing mass media’s attention to refugee and IDP problems. D. Sigurdson stated that other countries can utilize Azerbaijan’s practice in solution of refugee problems. He pointed out that Azerbaijan copes with this problem on its own. Now the refugees who previously came to Azerbaijan has integrated to the society.
