Ashgabat, 26 March 2010 - The newly appointed UNHCR Regional Representative/Regional Coordinator for Central Asia, Mr. Saber Azam, has completed his first visit to Turkmenistan saying he looks forward to enhanced cooperation between his agency and the Government of Turkmenistan to reduce and prevent statelessness, help refugees, and prepare for humanitarian emergencies.

Mr. Azam took up his post as UNHCR’s Regional Representative and Regional Coordinator for Central Asia based in Almaty in February 2010. On this introductory visit, Mr. Azam has met with senior government officials to discuss current challenges and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation, including Turkmenistan’s future membership of UNHCR’s governing Executive Committee. Mr Azam met with Mr. Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Mr. Kasym Babayev, Deputy Chairperson of Medjlis of Turkmenistan, and Mr. Seitnyyaz Ballyev, Chairperson of State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

“We express full support to the Government of Turkmenistan in its activities related to the refugees, statelessness and emergency issues”, said Mr. Azam, “Statelessness and mixed migration are important challenges for all Central Asian countries, and I am looking forward to future discussions with the Government to expand our mutual cooperation on these aspects”.

In his meetings with state officials of Turkmenistan, Mr. Azam discussed cooperation on reducing and preventing statelessness, including the need to review the Citizenship Law and the question of acceding to international conventions related to statelessness. Other topics for the discussions were the mutual cooperation on reception of refugees and Refugee Status Determination, as well as legislative developments. Turkmenistan signed the 1951 Refugee Convention already in 1997, and at the same time the Refugee Law was adopted. A third topic for discussions was possible cooperation on emergency preparedness and contingency planning. UNHCR has extensive experience in dealing with large emergencies and is ready to share the knowledge and experience in this field.

“We have noted President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s programme to review national legislation to make it in line with international standards and as part of this UNHCR is already working with the Government to amend the Refugee Law. We are ready to provide any assistance in helping to enhance the national legislation on statelessness”, said Brita Helleland, UNHCR Representative in Turkmenistan.

UNHCR has been in Turkmenistan since 1995, and has helped more than 17,000 find a permanent home through local integration, voluntary repatriation or resettlement to a third country.