REINTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS SHOULD BE PROVIDED AFTER THEIR RETURN TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. From 800 thousand to 1 mln people
have emigrated from 1990 to 2005 from Armenia, which makes 25-30%
of the total number of the population. As Gagik Yeganian, Director
of the Migration Agency of RA Ministry of Territorial Government,
informed on April 4, there are two types of migration from Armenia,
temporary and permanent. The temporary migration is mainly directed
to CIS countries, especially to Russia (makes 75% of total migration)
and the permanent or long-term migration to European countries (15%)
and U.S. (10%). According to G.Yeganian, studies show that the majority
of migrants, 60%, are 20-44-year-old able-bodied citizens who make
the most economically active part of the society. According to him,
in 1989-2001 200-300 thousand people having a higher education left
the country. G.Yeganian said that 40% of migrants is not aware that
they need to have a permit to the given country in order to enter
it and 58.3% a permission to promote working activity. In case of
their revelation in the country of their departure a deportation
awaits them. A “hot line” was created at the agency for the purpose
of providing the necessary information to RA citizens who leave for
foreign countries for the purpose of finding a job there and a program
of fighting illegal migration was worked out in 2002. According to
the head of the Migration Agency, after the return of the migrants
their reintegration should be provided so that they can again settle
in the homeland, otherwise they will again emigrate.