AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH DIRECTOR GENERAL OF IOM
[June 23, 2006, 14:37:27]

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met June 22 with Director General
of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brunson
McKinley, who is in Baku to participate in the 33rd session of the
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

The guest said he was pleased to visit Azerbaijan, and impressed with
all-round development he witnessed in the country.

Elmar Mammadyarov and Brunson McKinley discussed ways to further
develop cooperation between the Azerbaijani government and the IOM in
tackling the problems of refugees, internally displaced persons and
migrants.

Mr. McKinley noted that his organization comprising 118 members and
closely cooperating with various UN structures, is keen to develop
ties with Azerbaijan, which he said is now facing the problem of
refugees and internally displaced persons.

Minister Mammadyarov stressed the importance of peaceful solution to
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia’s
withdrawal from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and returning of
internally displaces persons back to their homeland.

He said a great deal of things regarding this problem depends on
willingness of the international community.

The conversation also revolved around the questions discussed at the
33rd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, and
other international issues.