Chief of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan made a speech in the round table on “International action and cooperation on refugees and migrants and issues related to displacement: the way ahead”  

Chief of the State Migration Service, II rank state migration service counselor Firudin Nabiyev delivered a speech at the round table on “International action and cooperation on refugees and migrants and issues related to displacement: the way ahead” conducted in the framework of high-level Summit of UN General Assembly on “Addressing large movements of refugees and migrants”.

Mr. Firudin Nabiyev highlighted  that in the background of objective realities dictated by new world order, the globalization process, along with its all progressive aspects, has made the management of migration with flexible mechanisms one of the urgent issues. He also emphasized that today good governance of migration processes and implementation of relevant migration policy to regulate these processes in compliance with economic interests of the country is of great significance.

Chief of the Service brought into attention active migration policy pursued by the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to impact on migration processes occurring in the region, to keep the migration flows to the territory of the country under control and to manage and regulate domestic migration processes in accordance with national legislation. He stated “today refugee and IDP problem in the world has reached a critical point. As a country which has been subject to conflict we fully acknowledge sufferings of refugees and IDPs. As a result of occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia more than 700 thousand of Azerbaijanis has been forced from their permanent residences and become IDPs. Unfortunately, 4 resolutions on withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from occupied territories adopted by UN Security Council in 1993 are not implemented. It should be mentioned that implementation of the demand of international community on necessity of giving opportunity to Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs to return to their lands is necessary for overall provision of their rights. We would like to express our gratitude to international humanitarian organizations, particularly to UN agencies, especially to UNHCR which supported us in difficult time of our history”.

Mr. Firudin Nabiyev mentioned that solution of social and welfare problems of IDPs does not mean solution of their displacement problem. With effort of international community forced displacement problem should be eliminated, comprehensive fair position should be demonstrated, peaceful and secure living of people should be ensured.

Regulation of migration processes, protection of migrants’ rights is one of the pressing problems of the modern world. Regulation of migration processes in accordance with international norms, protection of the rights of migrants and their family members are priority directions for the Republic of Azerbaijan. Measures taken so far are mainly directed towards legalization of the activity of migrants within the country and propagating legal migration. Legal migration is necessary for full protection of the rights of all migrants and their family members.

Chief of the Service noticed that realization of international and regional projects in the spheres of energy and transport, existing socio-political and economic stability in the country, creation of favorable condition in the sphere of entrepreneurship, rapid economic development are main factors affecting flow of foreigners to our country. Furthermore, high level tolerance in our country should be noted as a factor affecting migration processes with no less significance. Therefore it should be emphasized that no violation of rights regarding migrants on national, ethnic and religious ground has been recorded so far. In this sense we would like to express our deep concern related with increased Islamophobia trends and efforts to equalize Islam religion with violation and terrorism in the background of refugee and migrant influx.

Mr. F.Nabiyev also added that the Republic of Azerbaijan has signed bilateral and multilateral agreements with a number of countries for the purpose of ensuring protection of the rights of migrants and members of their families. There are bilateral agreements with Turkey, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Ukraine and Belarus on cooperation in migration field. At present signing of such agreements with a number of countries is expected. Protection of the rights of migrants, including citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan residing in other countries as migrants, their social protection, facilitation of their employment procedures are the basis of these agreements. Furthermore, our country by implementing readmission of migrants in illegal situation in the frame of readmission agreements signed with European Union and Norway ensures protection of their human rights. Measures are continued towards signing of such agreements with a number of other countries.

Chief of the Service emphasized that the Republic of Azerbaijan which has acceded to UN “Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families” is almost concluding full harmonization of national legislation to the requirements of the Convention and worded that it is one of the most significant steps taken by our country towards provision of the rights of migrants, particularly migrant workers and members of their families. He also stressed special importance of accession of destination countries for migrants to that Convention in prevention of violation of the rights of large number of migrants from these categories

Chief of the State Migration Service concluded his speech with these phrases “solution of problems of migrants, especially problems of refugees and IDPs can be possible through solidarity, fight against xenophobia and joint efforts. Furthermore, efforts should be increased for elimination of root causes of refugee and IDP problem and solution of conflicts”.