The Republic of Azerbaijan .png)
Video-conference meeting among the heads of the migration authorities of the member and observer states of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States
On May 7, 2020, a video-conference meeting of the heads of migration agencies and relevant authorities of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) was held. The event was dedicated to the discussion of issues arising at the Extraordinary Summit of the Turkic Council via video conference at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States Ilham Aliyev on April 10.
Along with the Secretary General of the Turkish Council, the video conference was attended by heads of migration agencies of Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Hungary.
Opening the event as the current Chairman-in-Office, Vusal Huseynov, Chief of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, III rank state migration service counselor noted that our country is making efforts to further increase the prestige of the Turkic Council in the world and strengthen cooperation between our countries.
The Service chief mentioned that at a time when coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly in the world, the organization of the Extraordinary Summit within the Turkish Council at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev resulted in the recognition of the Turkish Council which is distinguished by its operative response to processes taking place on a global scale, as the first international organization to take such an exemplary step.
Vusal Huseynov noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, flexible, necessary preventive steps were taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Azerbaijan and restrictive measures were realized in accordance with the situation. He noted that the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers, established by the relevant Decree of the President earlier this year and represented by the State Migration Service, has made relevant decisions, including on migration issues, in the process of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country and necessary work has been done to simplify relevant procedures in the field. The Service chief noted that migration is one of the areas most affected by the spread of the pandemic in the world, stating that the restrictions imposed by states on international border crossings have led to difficulties for foreigners and stateless persons outside their countries of origin. He stressed the importance of regulating the issues related to mobility of people in the background of the events happening in the world and the significance of today's meeting in this regard.
The Service chief spoke about the steps taken by the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan to make the services rendered to foreigners and stateless persons more comfortable and accessible within the current conditions in order to protect their health. Noting that the relevant procedures have been simplified and digitalized to guarantee stay and residence of foreigners in the country, Vusal Huseynov emphasised ensuring the comfort of foreigners, meeting their needs in a proper and efficient manner as one of the most important challenges at present. Highlighting the existing historical and cultural ties, as well as the intensity of migration flows among the participating countries, the Service chief stressed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation to manage this process more effectively.
The Service chief expressed confidence that the current meeting will contribute to the development of cooperation not only in the current situation, but also in the post-pandemic period and will serve the well-being of the countries. He stressed that Azerbaijan attaches importance to cooperation with the member and observer states in the field of migration, noting that international agreements already signed and agreed with the member states are a clear indication of this.
During the meeting, the measures taken by the member and observer states to prevent pandemics, the procedures applied in relation to foreigners staying and residing in their territories were discussed, and statistical information on the citizens of these countries were exchanged.
Expressing gratitude to the Azerbaijani side as the host country, the Secretary General of the Turkish Council Baghdad Amreyev expressed confidence in further strengthening of the existing cooperation between the participating states.
At the end of the meeting, taking into account the closeness of language and culture among the member and observer states of the Turkic Council, the intensity of mutual migration, in order to continue discussions in the current crisis, as well as in the next stage, to solve the issues arising promptly and to further expand joint activities, the proposal to establish a working group consisting of representatives of the relevant agencies of the member and observer states was put forward and adopted unanimously.
