‘Int’l organizations must put their efforts into ensuring territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’

Azerbaijani deputy prime-minister Ali Hasanov participated in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ministerial meeting. Mr. Hasanov made a speech at the meetings dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (July 28,1951) and the 50th anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (August 30,1961).

In his speech, Mr. Hasanov informed about Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict as a result of which 20% of Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenians and more than one million people became refugees and IDPs. Deputy Prime Minister updated the participants on the country`s political stability, economic reforms and large-scale projects to improve conditions of the refugees and IDPs.

Ali Hasanov said 12 refugee camps were eliminated in 2007, and more than 107,000 refugees moved to 70 new settlements thanks to the financial assistance of Azerbaijan State Oil Fund. A poverty rate decreased from 74 percent to 18 percent.

“But, unfortunately 400,000 refugees are experiencing hardships. Azerbaijan does all the best to solve conflict according to the principles and norms of the international law. The infrastructure of the occupied territories was fully destroyed and Armenians were settled here, which contradicts the Geneva Convention of 1949. The representatives of UNHCR and Field Assessment Mission of the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs witnessed the situation in Azerbaijan`s occupied territories, in October 2010. The situation is dangerous. International organizations, world`s leading states must put their efforts into ensuring territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and establishing peace in the region”.

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UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ministers of the UN member states made speeches at the event, which brought together 800 delegates from more than 70 nations.


/AzerTAc/