Int'l Rescue Committee to augment aid

Vice-premier, chairman of the State Commission on Refugess Ali Hasanov received a delegation of the US international humanitarian organization "International Rescue Committee" led by its vice-president George Badlyn Satruday. Vice-premier thanked the delegation for the assistance to Azeri refugees in alleviating the housing problem, implementation of medical education programs and development of small and private business.

Mr. Hasanov said the visit signified the Committee’s growing attention to the problems of Azeri refugees and IDPs, a source from the State Commission told AssA-Irada Saturday.

Co-chairman of the IRC Board of Directors Winston Lord stated that unlike other countries of the CIS, in Azerbaijan there are good opportunities for cooperation between government and non-governmental organizations.

"Though Armenian lobby in the US is very powerful, we have our own economic interests at stake", he said adding that he had met with US co-chair in the OSCE Minsk Group Carey Cavanaugh over the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict.

Touching upon the objectives of the visit, Mr. Lord said that it was a fact-finding mission intended to become familiar with the course of projects and to obtain information on whether or not it is necessary to augment assistance. "Time will soon come when your people will not be in need of our aid", he concluded.*