Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU733
2006-05-18 12:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
UN AGENCIES ENCOURAGE AZERBAIJAN TO PLAN FOR IDP
how-toVZCZCXRO9522 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHKB #0733 1381243 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181243Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0361 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0297 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0433 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0135 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA SZ PRIORITY 0163 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0431
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000733
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SNEC SMANN, MOSCOW FOR REFCOORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM AM AJ
SUBJECT: UN AGENCIES ENCOURAGE AZERBAIJAN TO PLAN FOR IDP
REPATRIATION
REF: BAKU 603
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1 (C) In a May 17 meeting with Poloff, UNHCR Representative
Bill Tall shared the contents of a letter UNHCR transmitted
to GOAJ Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov concerning the role
of UN agencies in IDP repatriation planning, in the event of
a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Tall said that
Baku-based UN agencies and the ICRC privately agreed to send
this letter to Hasanov, who chairs the State Committee on IDP
issues, as a "next step" in UNHCR's effort to move GOAJ IDP
repatriation planning forward. Tall plans to meet Hasanov May
20 to encourage the GOAJ to establish its own IDP
repatriation coordinating mechanism as a focal point for
international aid agencies' interaction with the GOAJ. Tall
also told Poloff that Hasanov personally approved of UNHCR's
initiative and fully accepts the principle of a voluntary
return of IDPs as the basis for planning.
¶2. (C) UNHCR's letter states that UN agencies are prepared to
take on responsibility for post-settlment IDP repatriation
activities in their respective sectors of expertise: UNICEF -
Water and Sanitation, WFP - food, WHO - health, and ICRC -
protection of humanitarian interests of the IDP population.
In the letter, UNHCR also highlighted the importance of a
comprehensive needs assessment of the war-ravaged occupied
territories as the prerequisite to any detailed UN or
bilateral assistance plan for an IDP return. Tall also
reaffirmed to Poloff that the GOAJ strongly expects USG to
play a lead role in implementing and financing a repatriation
plan, in conjunction with UN aid agencies and IOM.
Separately, Hasanov's senior advisor Gurban Sadiqov told
Poloff that Hasanov was supportive of UNHCR's overtures and
recognized the need to establish a GOAJ coordinating
mechanism to direct the implementation of a post-conflict IDP
repatriation plan.
HYLAND