PACE URGES CE TO HELP AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, GEORGIA WITH REFUGEES
by Yuri Ulyanovsky

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 13, 2006 Thursday 01:06 PM EST

Deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
believe that problems of refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia impede socio-economic and political development
of these countries. Besides humanitarian aid the international
community should also intensify assistance to them in fulfilling
development tasks, satisfying the local population needs so that to
give refugees hope for the future, the PACE believes. At the same time
the authorities of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan should maximally
use their internal potentials during periods when the volume of
international donations reduces.

The Assembly noted the appearance of a number of signs testifying to
the integration of refugees and displaced persons in the life of the
society of the three given republics and called on the authorities of
these countries to intensify policy in this sphere. In a resolution
adopted by the PACE deputies on Thursday they also urged member states
of the Council of Europe to render financial assistance to Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia in their efforts to settle the problems of refugees
and displaced persons, as well as to continue supplying humanitarian
aid and assist them in conflict settlement.

The Assembly’s resolution contains an appeal to intensify the
interregional dialogue by taking measures of confidence building and
organising regular consultations between the state agencies responsible
for the solution of refugee problems. The PACE believes that the
legislations of the corresponding countries should be reconsidered
in order to guarantee refugees and displaced persons equal rights
with the local population.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress