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Dag Sigurdson, UNHCR Baku representative: We support processesthat lead to solutions to end displacement- INTERVIEW

Dag Sigurdson, UNHCR Baku representative: We support processesthat lead to solutions to end displacement- <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

21 October 2011 08:32 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with Dag Sigurdson, UNHCR Baku representative

-Mr. Sigurdson, how do you find the refugee and IDPs problem in Azerbaijan? Whatâ€™s your general assessment?

-Compared to the situation we see in other European countries, the
number of asylum seekers and refugees in Azerbaijan is relatively low.
The statistics shows that both the number of registered asylum seekers
and recognized refugees in Azerbaijan has been stable despite the many
recent large humanitarian emergencies globally. However, having to
flee your home country and finding refuge in a new country is never an
easy experience and lots can be done to reduce their hardships and in
finding solutions to their many problems. Together with the Government
of Azerbaijan, UNHCR is actively advocating for their basic rights and
in providing legal and material assistance as needed.

- During 90-s UNHCR was one of the major donors for Azeri refugees. But later the agency dropped itâ€™sfinancial assistance due to Azerbaijanâ€™s increasing financial resources. Whatâ€™s your top priority now? Do you have currently any budget for Azerbaijani projects?

-It is correct that UNHCR implemented large programmes to assist
internally displaced persons and refugees - especially between 1992 and
2001/2002. Since 1994, UNHCR has actually provided assistance to the
value of more than 66 million USD for shelter, food, water and other
relief items to vulnerable persons living in displacement throughout
Azerbaijan. All along, UNCHRâ€™s achievements have been the result
of the excellent cooperation and support of the Government of
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has seen a remarkable level of development and financial
growth over the last decade and the fact that the wellbeing and
assistance to the displaced population have been very high on the
political and budgetary agenda has resulted in the Government taking
over more and more of the assistance previously provided by UNHCR. This
is a normal evolution of UNCHRâ€™s assistance programmes and explains
the reduction in UNHCRâ€™s direct involvement and budgets. However,
the direct assistance to the displaced population has actually increased
as the Government financial support now goes far beyond what UNHCRâ€™s
had financial means to provide. Today, UNHCR is complementing the
Government efforts on a couple of sectors.

What is encouraging in my work today, is that I very often meet people
from all levels of society who tell me that they have experienced
displacement and that they fondly remember and appreciates the
assistance received by UNHCR.

-A few years ago Azerbaijan closed last of emergency camp for IDPs.
But this move hasnâ€™t resolved their problems. What do you think, how to meet the needs of IDPs, and find sustainable solutions for them, including both return and local integration?

-UNHCRâ€™s position is always to work towards and support processes
that leads to solutions to end displacement. We are seeking a situation
where all refugees and displaced persons have the opportunity to
voluntarily return to their homes and ancestral land in safety and
dignity. Meanwhile, UNHCR remain engaged and actively promotes
activities leading to self reliance and improved living conditions while
people are living in displacement. In Azerbaijan, we are implementing
livelihoods/self reliance programmes for Internally Displaced Persons
and Refugees. Eligible beneficiaries are receiving support to set up
small businesses or being provided with vocations training which will
promote easier access to the labour market. We are also implementing
computer technology trainings to the younger IDP population. Experience
so far, is very encouraging and we have seen that many of our trained
students have easily found jobs in the fast developing commercial
sectors where computer skills are required.

-How do you deal with persons arriving in Baku from regional
countries like Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan to apply for asylum from UN in Baku? How many people applied for asylum?

-The 1951 Refugee Convention - which we are celebrating the 60th
anniversary of this year, outlines UNHCRâ€™s mandate and the obligations
of all signatory countries. In Azerbaijan, the prime responsibility to
manage the asylum process is taken care of by Government. We are
therefore working closely with the State Migration Service of the
Government to ensure that all asylum seekers are provided with a
thorough Refugee Status Determination procedure in accordance with
international legal standards.

The number of new arrivals seeking asylum in Azerbaijan is less than a
100 per year and has remained stable for a long period. At the moment,
UNHCR has registered and is providing assistance to some 1,700 asylum
seekers and refugees.

I must commend the Government of Azerbaijan for implementing a
relatively open asylum policy and for allowing persons of UNHCRâ€™s
concern to stay in the country and enjoy the protection of living in a
peaceful and welcoming environment. With the history and personal
experience of the hardships of displacement close at heart of most
citizens of Azerbaijan, I think that the generosity shown to refugees
from other countries are based on genuine care and understanding.
We also see that many of the refugees who have stayed in Azerbaijan
over a longer period of time have successfully integrated in the society
by learning the language and culture. Some have married locally and are
living a normal life side by side with their local neighbours.
However, there is always room for improvements and UNHCR is advocating
for a higher legal recognition rate and easier access to some basic
services. This is a constructive and necessary dialogue that UNHCR is
having in all countries where we operate. With Azerbaijan joining the
Eastern Partnership Programme with the European Union, UNHCR welcomes
the opportunity to further enhance and strengthen the cooperation with
the Government on strengthening and developing the asylum procedures.

-How do you deal with statelessness in Azerbaijan?

UNHCR also has been given an international mandate to deal with the
problems concerning Stateless Persons. In Azerbaijan we do not know the
full extent of this problem at the moment. The break up of the old
Soviet State and transition to new national documentation requirements
resulted in some problems for a number of persons. I have to mention
that Azerbaijan has a very good record on taking action to prevent
statelessness. Refugees arriving from Armenia in the early 90ties were
granted Azerbaijan citizenship and the experience with the 50.000
Meshken Turks who were also given nationality are excellent examples how
the problem of statelessness can be relatively easily prevented.
However, in our work with refugees and IDPâ€™s we frequently come
across individuals who have problems with their documentation which
could in a worst case scenario lead to de-facto statelessness. We are
therefore actively trying to help these individuals to obtain the
necessary documentation through our legal Aid programmes. As the 1961
statelessness convention which Azerbaijan is also a signatory to is
celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, we hope to join the
Government in having a closer look at the situation to identify, address
and prevent the problem of statelessness in Azerbaijan.