OVER 200 000 MIGRANTS WILL RETURN TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.03.2009 20:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Migration policy priorities have changed within
the last 3 months, as the spontaneous return of our compatriots is
already in process," RA Migration Agency Head Gagik Eghanyan told in
an interview to PanARMENIAN.Net. reporter.

He suggested creation of mechanisms that would mitigate social strain
to overcome financial crisis consequences.

"Unemployment in Russia increased dramatically. Demands of Russian
government that employees should give first priority to Russian
citizens must also be considered. The 200 000 people who, in changing
circumstances, will be left unemployed will have to choose between
Russia where they have neither job or shelter, or Armenia where they’ll
at least have shelter. If 400 000 people who chose to stay are added
to those mentioned above, the strain on job market will be virtually
overpowering," Eghanyan noted.

"By the end of spring we will get data on the number of those who did
not leave the country for seasonal job and those who returned. People
are waiting for construction works to start. But this spring their
hopes won’t be justified."