On June 22 the President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan received the Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mrs. Bushra Halepota.

Stressing the importance of the resolution of refugee problems in human, social-economic and spiritual-cultural aspects, the President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted, that those are people who have already experienced a tragedy, and the society has to be very caring towards them. Mr. Torosyan emphasized several peculiarities that are common for the refugees who had taken shelter in the Republic of Armenia 15 years ago. It was noted that they had survived from massacres and assassinations and resided in Armenia, losing all that they had created with their work all along their life. While the Azerbaijanis, who have left Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic have had the chance to sell their homes and property. Many realities other estimations are proposed now, particularly, various figures of refugees are circulated because of political interests. One year ago during the PACE Strasbourg session the rapporteur of the region on refugee issues presented the precise figures, which were based on UN calculations. The international community has to be presented the exact figures and the real picture, which will make possible to reveal and prevent the political speculations and to direct the international humanitarian aids to the right addresses. Noting the great work done in this sphere, the NA President expressed a hope that the UN mission in Armenia would succeed. In the National Assembly of the fourth convocation a Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs has been established, the cooperation with which will contribute to the resolution of the refugees’ problems. Stressing the priority of shelter and solution of social-economic issues, Mr. Torosyan reminded that part of the refugees who have taken shelter in Armenia are from Getashen, Shahumian, Mardakert regions of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, regions, that today are mainly controlled by the Azerbaijani army, and although these people still hope to return to their homes, in 15 years a new generation has grown up, and we have to make possible to retain their traditions and spiritual values.

T he Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ms. Bushra Halepota, who is in Armenia already three weeks, stressed the importance of precise data noting, that the UN office for refugees, the Danish Refugee Council and the Department of Migration and Refugees adjunct to the Government of RA have held a census among refugees. She appreciated the work that had been already done in Armenia for the resolution of refugee problems and emphasized that the fact of receiving citizenship is not the end of integration. Mrs. Halepota noted, that a program called 'Shelter' is under implementation jointly with the government, and now the resolution of the refugee problems will cover the territory of the whole republic, as the refugees living in the regions also have serious problems. She stressed the importance of harmonizing the legislation of this field with the international standards, expecting a close cooperation with the National Assembly in this issue.

During the meeting the parties also touched upon the foreign refugees that have taken shelter recently in Armenia. The President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted that if they stay in Armenia, they have to get the same treatment as the Armenian refugees. The Armenian people have a sensible attitude towards refugees: as in the beginning of the last century many of thousands of Armenians were forced to take shelter in other countries, so they are familiar with that anguish, and they are ready to help each of them to restore their normal way of life. Stressing the importance of legislative, social-economic and cultural problems of refugees, the President of the National Assembly expressed willingness to closely cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from now on too, supporting the implementation of programs.