Categories: General
      Date: Nov 21, 2007
     Title: Kazakh government, UNHCR sign agreement on cooperation in protecting refugees

Kazakh Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres signed a cooperation agreement to protect rights of refugees in Astana on November 14, reports the Embassy of Kazakhstan with reference to the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency.



“This document will serve as a basis for the regulatory framework of relations between our country and relevant UN office. The agreement governs activities of the UNHCR mission in Kazakhstan, sets out rights and obligations of its staff and clearly defines parties’ obligation to implement the agreement,” Minister Tazhin told at a press briefing after the signing ceremony.

Minister reminded that the UNHCR mission had been active in Kazakhstan since 1995. He added that independent Kazakhstan had provided shelter for about 15,000 refugees.

Tazhin indicated that Kazakhstan had joined the UN Refugee Convention adding that currently a law on refugees was being drafted in the country.