The International Conference on the Refugees in the Muslim World closed in Ashgabat. As was reported, the forum was organized by the Government of Turkmenistan in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in line with the initiative put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.
The conference agenda included the issues on improving the work on protection of refugees and developing the long-term measures to address these issues. The reports on the work carried out by leading international organizations to assist Palestinian refugees were presented during a special sitting. A separate session was devoted to the positive experience of Turkmenistan in this area.
Ministers, deputy ministers, other high-ranking officials representing 57 countries, members of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, heads and representatives of 40 international and intergovernmental organisations, observers representing 21 countries, including Russia, China, the US, European Union countries, etc. participated in the forum.
According to conference participants, the problem of refugees and stateless persons following conflicts and civil confrontations in countries with nonstabilized situation has become increasingly important in the modern world. In this regard, it was underlined the historical importance of the Ashgabat forum that brought together all interested parties to discuss the issues on guaranteeing the rights of refugees and developing efficient measures to solve the existing problems.
During the plenary sessions, the forum participants exchanged their views on the practical methods used by the governments of the OIC member states to address the issues related to the support provided to legal, social and economic integration of refugees and stateless persons. Adoption of the simplified procedures on naturalization of refugees in compliance with the provisions of the UN Convention "On the Status of Refugees" was presented as a positive example of the efforts to ensure the legal integration of refugees. The practical experience of social and legal integration of refugees in Turkmenistan was given as an example worthy of attention. This topic was among the key spheres for discussion during the meeting. Within the framework of a special session, the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan familiarized the forum participants with the policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the aim to prevent the statelessness and the measures taken to strengthen the national legal basis in this area.
It was noted that acceding to the relevant UN conventions, Turkmenistan has taken efficient measures to guarantee the rights of refugees. The Law "On Refugees" was adopted and successfully works in Turkmenistan. In order to ensure effective implementation of the Turkmen leader’s initiatives and offers to protect the human rights, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan adopted the Law "On legal status of foreign citizens in Turkmenistan", which addresses the rights and freedoms of stateless persons along with the rights of foreign citizens. It should be underlined another important fact confirming the steady adherence of Turkmenistan to fulfillment of the undertaken commitments, including the Resolution on ratification and accession to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons adopted by the National Parliament of Turkmenistan. The unprecedented in its scale and importance action - granting of the Turkmen citizenship and provision of residence permit in Turkmenistanto thousands of displaced persons and refugees has become a bright result of the practical implementation of the fundamental norms of the international law on refugees as well as efficient cooperation of the Government of Turkmenistan with the UNHCR Mission. The admittance to Turkmen citizenship of stateless persons envisages improvement of the social status of these people providing them with an opportunity to enjoy numerous benefits, study, work, and receive medical and other assistance.
Speaking about cooperation with the leading structural units of the United Nations, in particular with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the speakers emphasized that the large-scale important work had been done within the years of the long-term partnership. In particular, it was developed a specific plan of actions within the Programme on preventing and reducing statelessness in our country. It should be also noted about the work carried out within the framework of the humanitarian project “Improvement of quality of reproductive health services and social services to refugees and host communities” implemented by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the UNHCR Office in Turkmenistan.
Summing up the forum, the Ashgabat Declaration was adopted confirming the readiness of the OIC member states for further cooperation to address the issues on protection of refugees in the region and all over the world.
The conference agenda included the issues on improving the work on protection of refugees and developing the long-term measures to address these issues. The reports on the work carried out by leading international organizations to assist Palestinian refugees were presented during a special sitting. A separate session was devoted to the positive experience of Turkmenistan in this area.
Ministers, deputy ministers, other high-ranking officials representing 57 countries, members of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, heads and representatives of 40 international and intergovernmental organisations, observers representing 21 countries, including Russia, China, the US, European Union countries, etc. participated in the forum.
According to conference participants, the problem of refugees and stateless persons following conflicts and civil confrontations in countries with nonstabilized situation has become increasingly important in the modern world. In this regard, it was underlined the historical importance of the Ashgabat forum that brought together all interested parties to discuss the issues on guaranteeing the rights of refugees and developing efficient measures to solve the existing problems.
During the plenary sessions, the forum participants exchanged their views on the practical methods used by the governments of the OIC member states to address the issues related to the support provided to legal, social and economic integration of refugees and stateless persons. Adoption of the simplified procedures on naturalization of refugees in compliance with the provisions of the UN Convention "On the Status of Refugees" was presented as a positive example of the efforts to ensure the legal integration of refugees. The practical experience of social and legal integration of refugees in Turkmenistan was given as an example worthy of attention. This topic was among the key spheres for discussion during the meeting. Within the framework of a special session, the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan familiarized the forum participants with the policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the aim to prevent the statelessness and the measures taken to strengthen the national legal basis in this area.
It was noted that acceding to the relevant UN conventions, Turkmenistan has taken efficient measures to guarantee the rights of refugees. The Law "On Refugees" was adopted and successfully works in Turkmenistan. In order to ensure effective implementation of the Turkmen leader’s initiatives and offers to protect the human rights, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan adopted the Law "On legal status of foreign citizens in Turkmenistan", which addresses the rights and freedoms of stateless persons along with the rights of foreign citizens. It should be underlined another important fact confirming the steady adherence of Turkmenistan to fulfillment of the undertaken commitments, including the Resolution on ratification and accession to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons adopted by the National Parliament of Turkmenistan. The unprecedented in its scale and importance action - granting of the Turkmen citizenship and provision of residence permit in Turkmenistanto thousands of displaced persons and refugees has become a bright result of the practical implementation of the fundamental norms of the international law on refugees as well as efficient cooperation of the Government of Turkmenistan with the UNHCR Mission. The admittance to Turkmen citizenship of stateless persons envisages improvement of the social status of these people providing them with an opportunity to enjoy numerous benefits, study, work, and receive medical and other assistance.
Speaking about cooperation with the leading structural units of the United Nations, in particular with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the speakers emphasized that the large-scale important work had been done within the years of the long-term partnership. In particular, it was developed a specific plan of actions within the Programme on preventing and reducing statelessness in our country. It should be also noted about the work carried out within the framework of the humanitarian project “Improvement of quality of reproductive health services and social services to refugees and host communities” implemented by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the UNHCR Office in Turkmenistan.
Summing up the forum, the Ashgabat Declaration was adopted confirming the readiness of the OIC member states for further cooperation to address the issues on protection of refugees in the region and all over the world.
