The 3rd session of the United Nation Minority Forum Effective participation of national minorities in economic life December 14-15, 2010 Geneva Madame Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Delegates, First of all, Madame Chairperson, allow us to join the congratulations addressed to you on your election as a Chairperson of the 3rd session of the UN Minority Forum. We are confident that under your able stewardship, the UN Minority Forum will have a smooth session running and will end up with useful and guiding conclusions on the very topic dedicated to Effective participation of national minorities in economic life. Let me also extend the apologizes and regrets of Mr. Ali Hasanov – Head of the department of socio-political affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was to participate in this important meeting, but could not due to excused reasons. We consider the UN Minority Forum as an important event for promotion and protection of the minority rights, for exchange of views on the existing challenges as well as best practices in the very sphere. Let me stress that the Delegation of Azerbaijan has actively participated in the first and second sessions of the Minority Forum dedicated to the subjects of “Minorities and the right to education” and “Minorities and Effective Political Participation” respectively and has presented broad information on existing constitutional and legal framework, as well as practical measures realized by the Government on the protection of rights and freedoms of minorities living in Azerbaijan.