ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia Tuesday Nalbandian called OSCE to continue efforts in supporting refugees and migrants Yerevan October 24 Marianna Mkrtchyan. Armenian MFA Edward Nalbandian, who is in a working visit in Palermo, took part in ministerial meeting of OSCE. According to Armenian MFA press service, the event was arranged by Italy, which will involve OSCE chairmanship in 2018. In his speech, Nalbandian stated that security in OSCE region and the Mediterranean region are interrelated, and recent processes have once again proved this reality. "The large flow of migrants and refugees from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, especially from Syria and Iraq, highlights the need for close regional cooperation aimed at addressing such security problems as combating terrorism, preventing trafficking, proper treatment of refugees and others," said the Armenian minister. Referring to Armenia's experience in providing refuge to refugees, Nalbandian noted that Armenia has accepted more than 22,000 refugees from Syria. According to him, the adoption of such a large number of refugees put Armenia, which in the recent past has already taken hundreds of thousands of refugees from Azerbaijan, to a number of problems. "Many of the Syrian refugees are descendants of those who found shelter in Syria after the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire 100 years later they are forced to leave their homes." The Armenian people know firsthand what it means to be a refugee and accept them. assistance to refugees and their integration into society Refugees are provided with wide assistance on such issues as the accelerated process of granting the right to receive a residence, simplified the process of obtaining citizenship, medical assistance, scholarships, simplified admission to higher education institutions, flexible taxation mechanism and an attractive business environment, entry to the labor market, "the Armenian Foreign Minister said. At the same time, Nalbandian informed that Armenia also helped the ones in need in Syria, permanently sending humanitarian help there. According to him, Armenian Consulate General in Aleppo is the only foreign diplomatic mission that has continued its activities in such difficult conditions. Nalbandian also believes that for a comprehensive response to the flow of refugees and migrants, it is necessary to combat the primary sources of this phenomenon, such as terrorism and crimes carried out on a national basis. "Armenia is one of the first countries in the OSCE, who voiced this problem and came up with an initiative that strengthens commitments on this issue in the Organization." Among the OSCE commitments on terrorism enshrined in the Hamburg Declaration are such provisions as condemnation of the persecution of individuals and communities, including on religious grounds, prosecution of those involved in terrorist activities, prevention of cross-border financing related to terrorist activities, movements of foreign mercenaries and weapons. We are convinced that the OSCE efforts in this direction should be continued, "the Armenian Foreign Minister said. Nalbandian once again confirmed adherence of Armenia to the issue of support and protection of the representatives of national and religious minorities. In this context, he informed that On November 22 in Yerevan will pass OSCE "Preventing and combating hate crimes against Christians and other religious groups" conference and invited colleagues from the Mediterranean to contribute to this event.