Russia, Moscow / Trend corr.R.Agayev / The intergovernmental agreement between Azerbaijan and Russia on labour migration may to be signed at the first quarter of 2008, Natik Mammadov, the Azerbaijani deputy Labour and Social Protection Minister, said. Presently, Mammadov leads the Azerbaijani Task Group on regulation of migration issues. Vacheslav Postavnin, the deputy Director of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation, heads the Russian delegation.
Postavnin positively assessed the negotiations held between two countries held in the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation.
Earlier the concrete draft of measures on bilateral base was signed by Mikhail Zurabov, the Health and Social Development Minister of Russia, as development and agreement of the intergovernmental agreement takes certain time. It was decided to establish the bilateral Azerbaijani-Russian task group within the framework of the aforesaid draft.
Mammadov said that the issues concerning implementation of the draft and to render assistance to legalize the labour functioning of Azerbaijanis residing in Russia were discussed.
The number of legalized workers from Azerbaijan made up 17,000 in 2006; however, the number reached 37,537people within the first quarter of 2007, the deputy minister said.
"There are no differences between us on aforesaid issues, as the aim of our joint measures is to render assistance to attract Azerbaijani citizens to legalized labour activity on the territory of the Russian Federation. Russia is ready to hold labour fairs in order to help Azerbaijanis to find jobs, however, not enough Azerbaijanis residing in Russia take part at these fairs. The labour fairs held jointly with the Federal National Cultural Autonomy of Russian Azerbaijanis and World Congress of Azerbaijanis has a great importance for us," Natik Mammadov said.
The joint protocol will be signed as a result of the negotiations. The second meeting of the Task Group will be held in Baku at the beginning of December 2007.
Touching upon the Azerbaijani-Russian intergovernmental agreement in labour migration sphere developed in 2007, the deputy minister said that the Azerbaijan ahs already agreed the agreement with Interior Minister, Foreign Minister, Ministry for Economic Development and State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad.
Presently the agreement is being considered by the Ministry for Economic Development and Trade of Russia. The Azerbaijani Government has already developed a special document for Azerbaijani citizens coming to Russia.