The pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait were planned and serious
preparatory works were carried out

2010-02-26
/id/592050/lang/en

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS: The pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait
were planned and serious preparatory works were carried out, head of
the State Migration Agency of the Territorial Administration Ministry
Gagik Yeganyan said today at the meeting with the reporters. According
to him, what happened in Sumgait February 27-29, 1988 was genocide as
a result of which thousands of people became handicapped, houses
belonging to Armenians were robbed.

After these February events, Armenia received the first group of
refugees. G. Yeganyan said the fact that such situation was possible
was unbelievable as the main motto of the USSR was `friendship of
peoples’. During these years Armenian government was able to be useful
for the displaced Armenians. `They were suffering a great pain as many
of them lost their relatives, property, they were morally pressed. The
government managed in short period of time ensure more or less
bearable conditions for the great mass of people providing them all
the resources,’ Yeganyan said.

After the Sumgait, pogroms of Armenians continued in the other regions
of Azerbaijan, as a result of which half million of people were
displaced. People who were living there from generations to
generations during a few days lost everything. From this half a
million the 300,000 chose Armenia as an asylum and tried to start a
new life. In future flow of refugees started from Armenia as well.

G. Yeganyan speaking about the issues of refugees, noted that the
prior issue still remains the ensuring of apartments, the issue of
their employment also exists. In 2004 the government approved a
program with which it assumed a commitment to solve the apartment
issues of 3470 refugees from Azerbaijan who were temporarily living in
hotels or hostels. About 1000 of them received apartment purchasing
certificates 700 of which have already acquired apartments.

Currently 1200 needy refugee families needing apartments are
registered. About 40 million USD is necessary for ensuring apartments
for them.

For the implementation of the program on providing apartments to the
refugees and finding financial means a conference of international
donor organizations will be organized in Armenia in the fall of the
running year during which the issues will be presented, further steps
pointed out.