Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 20
By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has received regional coordinator for Central Asia at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Saber Azam, the Turkmen government reported on March 20.
'Special attention was paid to the measures taken to strengthen security and stability in the region and in particular the mutual assistance given in the establishment of peace and economic revival of neighbouring Afghanistan , as well as issues related to work with refugees and stateless persons and to create all necessary conditions for a decent life', according to the statement.
The importance of the 'Refugees in the Muslim world' international conference, held earlier in Ashgabat was stressed during the meeting, according to the report.
The two sides reaffirmed their mutual readiness to continue the dialogue established whilst taking into account the key aspects of Turkmen foreign policy.
Turkmenistan has recently worked to implement the provisions of international legal acts, regulating the legal status of refugees in Turkmenistan, their rights and freedom into the national law.
The Turkmen parliament of the fourth convocation approved the bill on 'Refugees' in August 2012. The document envisages the grounds and procedures for the recognition of foreign citizens and stateless persons as refugees in the country. The economic, social and legal guarantees of protecting their rights and legitimate interests were established in accordance with the Turkmen constitution and the principles and norms of international law.
Some 3318 stateless persons residing in the country were provided with Turkmen citizenship in 2011 upon the Turkmen president's decree.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM