Int’l organizations, gov’t in dispute over refugees’ integration

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 27 2005

Baku, June 24, AssA-Irada — The State Committee on Refugees and
international organizations have different views on the issue of
displaced persons’ integration into society.

“Although we are trying to prevent these people’s integration into the
local population, international organizations, on the contrary, apply
pressure on us to do this”, the Committee chairman Ali Hasanov told
a news conference at the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party office on Friday.

“We have not and will not do this, as in all conflict zones around
the world, serious problems arise over the return of these people
after the problem is solved.”

Hasanov did not rule out that the ‘Armenian factor’ may play a role
in the pressure on the part of international organizations.

“Armenia has been aspiring to this from the first day. They have
always been concerned over the densely-populated Azerbaijanis, so
that there will not be anyone left to return to their homes after the
[Armenia-Azerbaijan] conflict is settled.”