Aliyev to Close UN and ICRC Offices in Azerbaijan
The International Committee of the Red Cross
The office of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has ordered its cabinet and the foreign ministry to take necessary measure to close the offices of international organizations, such as United Nations-affiliated groups and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Azerbaijani media reported on Tuesday.
According to the published information, the offices of UNDP (UN Development Program), UNHCR (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees), UNFPA (UN Population Fund), UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund), ICMPD (International Center for Migration Policy Development) and ICRC, will fall under the order.
“Many of these organizations came to Azerbaijan under the flag of helping refugees. But instead of helping refugees and IDPs, instead of real assistance to the revival of Karabakh, they are now engaged in the same sponsorship of dubious NGO programs,” Azerbaijani media reported, all with an accusatory slant toward Armenia.
The Azerbaijani press reports claimed that the decision was made because these organizations were taking a pro-Armenia positions on regional matters.
