MEETING AT THE NA STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
National Assembly of RA
May 5 2009
Armenia
On May 5 Mr. Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee
on the Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National
Assembly of Armenia, received Mr. John Greenway, Rapporteur of the
PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population and Committee
Secretary Mr. Ivy-Triin Odrats. Deputy Chairman of the Committee
Mr. Rafik Petrosyan and the committee member Mr. Aram Safaryan attended
the meeting.
Mr. Greenway noted that the aim of the visit is to get acquainted with
the problems of the protection of human rights in Armenia as a report
will submitted at the PACE June session during the debate dedicated
to the protection of human rights. Its aim is to find new solutions
in the settlement of the problems of the refugees in the region.
At the guests’ request Mr. Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, Chairman of the
NA Standing Committee on the Protection of Human Rights and Public
Affairs, presented the spheres of the activities of the committee,
saying that the refugees’ problems are also at the center of
the attention of the committee: they quickly respond and try
to find solutions. He said that recently the committee organized
parliamentary hearings and discussed in detail the problems regarding
the refugees. Mr. Mnatsakanyan noted that the existing conflicts
in the region had serious consequences: thousands of people were
displaced and social problems arose. The Committee Chairman informed
the guests that there are 311.000 refugees in Armenia. The Armenian
authorities carry out works on implementing the issues of reception,
accommodation and other issues of priority.
Mr. Mnatsakanyan thanked Mr. Greenway for cooperation, support and
for showing serious approach with the delegation of the National
Assembly of Armenia in PACE.
The committee members noted that different international organizations
and NGOs also have great contribution in mitigating the refugees’
concerns.
At the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed.