Azernews.Az

The World Bank's newly appointed Regional Director for the South Caucasus, Henry Kerali, said he would spare no efforts to contribute to the development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov on Tuesday.

In turn, Hasanov congratulated Kerali on his new appointment and expressed confidence that cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Bank would continue.

The deputy prime minister, who chairs the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, briefed the WB regional director on the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said that in the wake of Armenia's policy of aggression against Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and seven adjacent regions were occupied and more than one million Azerbaijanis were displaced.

"Armenia is failing to honor the resolutions of the UN and other international organizations. Azerbaijan considers that the conflict must be settled on the basis of norms and principles of international law," Hasanov said.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since a brutal war between the two South Caucasus neighbors in the early 1990s. Armenia has since occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, despite four UN resolutions on an unconditional pullout of its armed forces and condemnation by a number of other international groups. Peace talks, brokered by the United States, Russia and France through the OSCE Minsk Group, have been largely fruitless so far.

Hasanov pointed out that Azerbaijan has gained vast experience in the course of its cooperation with the World Bank. Several successful projects have been implemented jointly with the bank to improve the well-being of refugees and IDPs. The deputy prime minister noted that though Azerbaijan's financial resources are increasing, the country's cooperation in lending with reliable and experienced international institutions continues.

Hasanov also said large-scale rehabilitation projects will be implemented in the occupied territories after they are liberated. "That is why we need the help of experienced international organizations," he added.
Henry Kerali regarded the Azerbaijani government's efforts to improve the living conditions of refugees and IDPs as an example for the entire world. He also suggested organizing an international conference by the Azerbaijani government on these successful projects.