Nalbandian called OSCE to continue efforts in supporting refugees and migrants

ArmInfo. 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 conference and invited  colleagues from the Mediterranean to contribute to this event.