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UNHCR organized a Photo Exhibition in Ashgabat

UNHCR Representation in Turkmenistan organized a Photo Exhibition in Ashgabat on 26 June 2012 to commemorate the World Refugee Day, celebrated worldwide on 20 June since 2001. World Refugee Day is dedicated to honour refugees for their courage, determination and perseverance in facing threats of persecution, conflict and violence which forced them to flee from their homes.

The Photo Exhibition was held at the Turkish Cultural Centre. Pictures showed a summary of UNHCR's history of actions from 1945 to 2012, including the joint registration exercise in Turkmenistan of stateless persons and persons at risk of becoming stateless as well as the Ashgabat OIC International Ministerial Conference in May 2012. Representatives from diplomatic missions, government ministries and departments, NGOs and the media participated in the Photo Exhibition.

At the opening of the Photo Exhibition, UNHCR Representative, Milagros Leynes, highlighted the achievements of Turkmenistan in the areas of prevention and reduction of statelessness by granting Turkmen citizenship to thousands of stateless persons. Turkmenistan is considered a model in the region for its generous policy on stateless persons. Turkmenistan also hosted thousands of Tajik refugees during the civil war in Tajikistan and is currently counting 58 refugees, recognized under UNHCR mandate. In 2011, Turkmenistan acceded to the 1954 UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons. In the same year Turkmenistan became a member of the Executive Committee of UNHCR. On 11-12 May 2012 it graciously hosted and co-organized together with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and UNHCR, the successful International Ministerial Conference on Refugees in the Muslim World.

UNHCR will continue its fruitful cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan and is hoping that the country will soon accede to the 1961 UN Convention on Reduction of Statelessness.