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1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report covering the period ending in May 2005. It notes with interest the approval of the national programme of socio-economic development for the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2004-08), in the context of which the construction of rehabilitation centres is envisaged in the cities of Sumgait, Cheki, Evlakh, Lenkoran, Naftalan and Khatchmaz. Each year, the Government adopts the programme to finance social protection measures for persons with disabilities. The objective of the socio-economic programme is to strengthen and bring closer the service for the rehabilitation of the disabled by establishing it directly in the regions. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the results achieved through the measures adopted with a view to the integration of persons with disabilities into the open labour market, particularly in rural areas (Article 8 of the Convention).

2. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee recalls that the Government has to undertake consultations with organizations of employers and workers and of persons with disabilities (Article 5). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held in the context of the implementation of the national programme for socio-economic development and the measures that are to be taken to secure cooperation and coordination between the public and private bodies engaged in the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

3. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including for example statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention, with particular reference to the development of training for the staff of the centres, and vocational training (Article 9 and Part V of the report form).