INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA CONCERNED ABOUT ILLEGAL MIGRATION
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 28 2006
YEREVAN, June 28 (RIA Novosti) – Illegal migration has become one of
the most pressing problems facing the world today, Russia’s interior
minister said Wednesday.
Russia has seen an unprecedented inflow of illegal migrants following
the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Interior Ministry estimates
the number in Russia’s Far East alone at between 400,000 and 700,000,
but the true figure may be higher.
"Illegal migration has become a serious problem, as it is closely
related to terrorism, international organized crime, drug trafficking
and trade in people," Rashid Nurgaliyev told a joint Russian-Armenian
interior ministries’ session in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
He said that, as a transit country, Russia was particularly interested
in cooperation in the field, both multilateral and bilateral, and
added that interaction with Armenia would be prioritized.