Baku - On 30 May 2019, Mr. Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Mission to Azerbaijan met with Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

Introducing himself Mr. Gjorgjiev expressed the interest of the organization in cooperation with the Ministry in the framework of projects implemented in the country. He said that IOM pays a special attention to echology because the complex relationship that exists between the environment, climate change, and migration. He also informed the Minister about IOM’s important Kahriz project funded by KOICA, within which 40 kahrizes, environmentally friendly traditional water-supply systems will be rehabilitated in different regions of Azerbaijan. 

In this context Mr. Gjorgjiev told about the recent field visit to regions during which he and UN Resident Coordinator visited the Chakil Kahriz located in the Naftalan region, Kahriz that was reconstructed by the IOM Mission in Azerbaijan 9 years ago. “Using this environmentally sustainable water source, the local community was able to plant around 20,000 threes over the period of 9 years in Naftalan and surrounding area,” said Gjorgjiev. Chakil Kahriz continues to provide substantial source of water for Naftalan region. 

For his part, Mr. Mukhtar Babayev expressed interest in cooperation with IOM, noting that within the framework of this cooperation they are ready to share their available data on environment and climate trends of the country. 

During the meeting opportunities for cooperation, proposals for new projects were discussed.