Joint event of the State Migration Service with EU and International Center for Migration Policy Development

On November 22-24, 2011 a training called “Management of detention centers for illegal migrants” within the project of “Support to the fight against illegal migration and management field of return in Azerbaijan Republic” was held by the European Union (EU) and the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) with the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic.

Declaring the event open, Deputy chief of the Service, III rank state migration service counselor Parviz Musayev stated that State Migration Service is carring out several projects together with the European Union and the International Center for Migration Policy Development within MIEUX program: “Last year one of these  projects was on adaptation of the existing legislation and has been completed. Today the second project is being implemented. This is the project “Support to the fight against illegal migration and management of return”. The training which is being conducted is a part of this project.” P. Musayev emphasized that developing the migration sphere that is one of the priority directions of high level cooperation established on multilateral basis between Azerbaijan Republic and European Union is an important issue for our country.

Deputy chief of the Service mentioned that Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed between Azerbaijan Republic and European Union has yielded positive results, he also notified that adaptation process of the legislation in migration field is carried out successfully: “Thus with the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic dated on March 19, 2007 the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic was established, implementation of unified state policy in migration sphere and improvement of more efficient management system in  this area was provided.”

Improving legislative base in migration sphere, efficient organization of administrative work has been kept in the center of attention by the State Migration Service and a number of organizational events have been carried out alongside with legal adaptation towards implementing obligations assumed within European Neighborhood policy Action Plan since 2007. Application of “single window” principle in management of migration processes, establishment of the Unified Migration Information System and provision of its functioning, providing operation of Regional Departments of the Service, Detention Centers for Illegal Migrants, Migration Division of Baku Regional Migration Department at Border Check Points of Heydar Aliyev International Airport and other works can be shown as an example”. Deputy Chief of the Service stated that they would further mobilize all their energy and ability to make the cooperation with EU durable, to protect human rights and freedoms and to provide transparency.

Greeting training participants advisor on Political issues of the European Union Representation in Azerbaijan Mr. Andrey Valentinov wished them success. “We have started very successful cooperation with Azerbaijan. A perfect migration management system has been created in this country” – said Mr. A. Valentinov. He also spoke about experience of European Union countries in migration field, pursued policy and completed works.

Stating their interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan Coordinator of ICMPD, project manager Mr. Oleg Kiritsa gave information on the project and expressed his assurance that the three-day training with the participation of high level international experts (the Netherlands, Belgium) would contribute to the work of migration bodies’ employees.

Employees of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic, as well as the State Migration Service of Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic participated in the training.

At the end of the training certificates on specialized course were presented to the participants.