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IOM: The number of international migrants worldwide was 232 million people last year

10 April 2014 11:56 (UTC +04:00)

This figure is approximately equal to the number of Indonesia's population, IOM Azerbaijan Officer in charge, Serhan Aktoprak said at the international conference “Migration policy and human rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan” in Baku.

According to him, if such an increase is taken account over the last two years, the money sent by international migrants of their earnings home will exceed $ 500 billion. This figure is equal to GDP of Saudi Arabia.

Assessing the protection of migrants’ rights in Azerbaijan, Serhan Aktoprak said that migrants’ rights are protected here at a high level. In some countries there is a discrimination against foreign nationals because of their skin color, language or religion, but it is not observed in Azerbaijan: “The tolerance and hospitality of the Azerbaijani people affect it. Azerbaijan should be exemplary in the field of migration management. There are countries that are interested in studying Azerbaijan’s mechanisms. The UN appreciates the activities of the Azerbaijani state aimed at ensuring and protecting the rights of migrants and foreigners in the country in accordance with international standards. We expect that the transit role and infrastructure of Azerbaijan will develop at the international level. The expansion of transport network and strengthening of economic activity in Azerbaijan will increase transit migration.”