On June 9 RA National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdasarayan received Peter Nikolaus, the newly appointed Representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Armenia.

The parties addressed issues related to the resolution of the refugees’ problems. Mr. Nikolaus commended the attitude of the Armenian authorities to the refugees’ problems, which is consistent with the provisions of the Constitution, the focal tool for the resolution of the refugees’ problems. The UNHCR Representative pledged commitment to partnership with the Parliament crediting the contribution of the MPs to the resolution of the issues.

Addressing the problems facing refugees Mr. Baghdasarayan highlighted their legal protection, the necessity to provide them with lodgings and jobs; the implementation of the 5m-worth project will begin in 2005. The coalition government sees the aforementioned project as an instrumental tool in coping with the housing issue. As such the sides weighted the contribution of the public organizations. The Council on Refugees and Displaced Persons affiliated with the NA Chairman was set up for the purpose, the Council is actively cooperating with the appropriate NGOs.