Agreement was concluded between State Migration Service and International Organization for Migration

Signing ceremony of the “Cooperation Agreement between State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and International Organization for Migration on Pilot Project on Assistance for the Voluntary Return of Migrants from Azerbaijan” was held in Geneva on December 8.

The Agreement was signed by the Chief of State Migration Service, II rank state migration service counselor Firudin Nabiyev who is on a visit in the Switzerland for the purpose of attending the 107th Session of the Council of International Organization for Migration on behalf of Azerbaijan and Director General of IOM William Lacy Swing.  Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Vaqif Sadıqov attended the signing ceremony.

Recalling his visit to our country last year and official meetings with Azerbaijani delegation within the framework of international events William Lacy Swing once again pointed out the stability and progressive migration management model established in the Republic of Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as significance attached to multicultural values.

Chief of State Migration Service Firudin Nabiyev emphasized that our country acceded to various international conventions, as well as the laws and normative-legal acts adopted in migration sphere at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev open wide range of opportunities for full provision of the rights and freedoms of the foreigners and stateless persons in our country. Service chief touched upon the development perspectives of high level cooperation established between the state entity managed by him and the International Organization for Migration and its representation in Azerbaijan. The Agreement signed within the framework of assistance for the voluntary return was appreciated as an example of mutual trust and confidence.

It was noted that the pilot project which will be launched according to this Agreement aims to offer favorable conditions for the successful return of persons whose asylum applications are rejected and vulnerable migrants who wish to return voluntarily to their countries of origin.

The 12 month long project envisages the implementation of substantial measures such as awareness raising, as well as assistance to the abovementioned persons prior to and during the departure.