Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20
By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:
Europe can learn from Azerbaijan's experience in resolving the problems of refugees, Novruz Mammadov, deputy head of Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administration's foreign relations department told reporters Nov.20.
"Some 700,000-800,000 refugees who have arrived in Europe with a 400 million population, caused great problems," he said. "The US is now considering not to accept refugees from Syria and Iraq."
Mammadov reminded that in 1990 when Azerbaijan gained independence, it was able to cope with the refugee problem.
"During this period in terms of political instability and weak economy in the country, more than one million refugees and internally displaced people arrived in Azerbaijan. The country's population was just 5-6 million people. However, Azerbaijan coped with this problem," he said.
"Azerbaijan cooperates with Europe as part of the European Neighborhood Policy, Eastern Partnership," he said. "But they do not stress the work done by Azerbaijan to solve the problems of refugees and internally displaced people. Some organizations of these countries can make statements on various issues related with Azerbaijan several times a year. But they do not talk about violation of the rights of refugees and internally displaced people."
He said that when such an attitude is shown and such statements are made, it is difficult to establish relations with Azerbaijan.
"This is the result of the West's mistake and its unfair attitude to the issues," Mammadov said.
Europe can learn from Azerbaijan regarding refugee problems
Europe can learn from Azerbaijan's experience in resolving the problems of refugees, Novruz Mammadov, deputy head of Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administration’s foreign relations department told reporters Nov.20.
