Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug 5, 2006

Ombudsman Apparatus Officers Visited Switzerland by invitation of
Organization for Development and Cooperation of Switzerland and
Geneva Institute of International Relations
05.08.2006

Beginning from 2001, the Organization for Development and Cooperation
of Switzerland and Geneva Institute of International Relations
implements International relations building-up project.

The main purpose of this project is to bring the South Caucasus
public departments in line of international standards, to reinforce
and develop public relations, and also to improve information
receiving process. Within the framework of the project the training
and courses in the field of human rights, humanitarian rights,
economics and negotiation process are held for officers of public
organizations of the South Caucasus states. Furthermore, to date
Councils of graduates, which members were trained within the
framework of the project have been established and being operated in
South Caucasus states each.

Already for two years these graduates are awarded the Switzerland
Leadership Prize and sent for weekly business visit to Switzerland.

Thus, from 23 to 28 July 2006 three winners of the Switzerland
Leadership Prize, among who were also officers of the Apparatus of
Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan Zaur Zamanov and Lala
Azimova, left for Switzerland.

At first day of visit the representatives of the South Caucasus
countries were received at the Institute of International Relations
where the Professor Daniel Warner, deputy Director of the Institute
congratulated winners on the Prize and told about the Swiss
Confederation.

Then in a number of international organizations which headquarters
are situated in Geneva, including the Office of the UN to Geneva, the
UN High Commissariat for Refugees (UNHCR), the Office of the UN High
Commissariat for Human Rights (UNHCHR), International Committee of
Red Cross and World Trade Organization, the discussion focused on
actual issues of international relations, and also problems in the
field of human rights, diplomacy and international security were
held.

Moreover, ’round table’ under the direction of deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Switzerland for Political Issues was held in Bern.

The ’round table’ said that Switzerland interested in cooperation
with Azerbaijan intends to develop relations with our country.

At the same time, the officers of the Apparatus of Ombudsman visited
the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Switzerland and discussed the human
rights related matters.

During trip to Switzerland, the officers of the Apparatus of
Ombudsman informed in detail about our State, legal and social and
economic reforms for development of human rights and reinforcement of
civil society. Informing of multilateral work done by the Apparatus
of Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan and difficulties with
faced the Ombudsman, they told about the occupation of
Nagorno-Garabagh and 7 districts adjacent to that. They informed
about ethnic cleansing policy implemented by Armenia and the problem
of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons, withdrawn
by force from their native lands, who were deprived of their
properties and native lands as well as relatives who were killed
mercilessly by aggressors.

–Boundary_(ID_lho8mw7FW+ZO7Q/SDGtOng )–