IOM attaches ‘great’ importance to cooperation with Azerbaijani government

Baku, July 29, AZERTAC Regional director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the South and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia Argentina Szabados has said IOM greatly values its cooperation with the government of Azerbaijan as she met with the country`s Deputy Premier, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov. She praised Azerbaijan`s management of migration processes, saying this practice could serve as a role model for other countries. Szabados also applauded tolerance in Azerbaijan as well as transparent working conditions created in the country for foreign organizations. She noted the necessity of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the IOM. Hasanov recalled Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev’s and President Ilham Aliyev’s meetings with the IOM Director-Generals at various times. He said these meetings discussed ways of deepening cooperation between the country and the organization. The Deputy Premier hailed the work of the IOM office in Baku, particularly humanitarian and development projects. “Azerbaijan is open for new projects of the IOM.” “After the restoration of independence we used professional experience and expertise of the IOM to build a legal framework for solving the problem of migration which was new for us at that time. Today Azerbaijan has joined international conventions, improved its national legislation to international standards and built a robust legal framework in this sphere. The government of Azerbaijan is interested in continuing and developing cooperation with the IOM,” said Hasanov. He said Azerbaijan was an attractive destination for migrants due to its economic advancements and the government`s effective policy to create new jobs and improve the living standard of refugees and IDPs. “Speedy development of the country has led to an increase in the number of migrants visiting Azerbaijan, so we still need to continue cooperation within the IOM in priority areas.” Szabados hailed Azerbaijan`s great achievements despite the occupation of a fifth of its territory and the existence of more than one million refugees and IDPs. She lauded the conditions created for refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan thanks to efforts of President Ilham Aliyev. She expressed hope that her visit to Azerbaijan would contribute to cooperation between the country and the organization.