3925 RA CITIZENS APPLY FOR RECEIVING REFUGE ABROAD IN 2007, WHICH DECREASES BY 6% COMPARED WITH 2006

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN. 338.3 thousand applications on granting
a refuge were received in 51 countries of the world in 2007. This
index has increased by about 10% compared with 2006, mainly due to the
situation in Iraq. Gagik Yeganian, the Head of the Migration Agency of
the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration, said at the April 15
press conference adding that 8% growth falls to citizens of Iraq. He
said that 3925 RA citizens applied for receiving a refuge abroad in
2007. This index has decreased by 6% compared with 2006. According
to G. Yeganian, over the past three years RA citizens apply mainly
to France to receive a refuge. The number of these citizens made 1924
in 2007, 400 RA citizens applied to Austria and 400 to Belgium.

According to the observation of the head of the agency, in the previous
years RA citizens preferred Poland, Germany, Benelux countries, Czech
Republic for a refuge. G. Yeganian also said that the prevaling part of
RA citizens’ applications of receiving a right of refuge is rejected.