Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 12
Trend:
The violation of the rights of refugees and migrants from the global flashpoints is observed in Europe today, Fuad Alasgarov, head of department on work with law enforcement bodies at the Azerbaijani presidential administration, said.
Alasgarov made remarks at the 19th meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Migration Agencies in Baku October 12.
“The most vivid example of migration crisis today is the mass migration of refugees from Syria to Europe. They hope to find asylum in Europe, and instead face harsh and even cruel policy of European countries,” Alasgarov said. “Xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments are growing and some politicians use these sentiments to come to power."
Alasgarov said that Azerbaijan became the first country in the CIS which faced large flows of migrants and refugees as a result of ethnic cleansing in the 1980s and the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.
“More than a million of Azerbaijani people, that is, virtually every eighth person, were forced out of their lands,” Alasgarov said.
“However, Azerbaijan coped with these difficulties and could provide refugees with normal living conditions,” he added. "Despite enormous difficulties, Azerbaijan could ensure all the basic needs of refugees and internally displaced people in the subsequent years and integrate them into society.”
Alasgarov said that however, the consequences of occupation have a negative effect as the occupied Azerbaijani territories are used for organizing illegal migration and other dangerous kinds of transnational crime.
“Azerbaijan has also been recently affected by the migration problems,” he said, adding that more and more migrants with fake documents are trying to enter the country.
