Delegation of Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia visits RA Ministry of Diaspora

On March 29, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received the delegation of the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia, including Representative of the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia Christoph Bierwirth, Programs Department Officer Nver Sargsyan and International Consultant of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ricarda McFalls. President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO George Parseghian was also participating in the meeting.
The steps for solving the social and economic issues of Syrian-Armenians, as well as the priorities and challenges of the Syrian-Armenians were touched upon during the meeting.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia for the active cooperation and support and attached importance to the participation of international, charitable and pan-Armenian organizations in the solution to the key issues of Syrian-Armenians and their economic integration. The Minister particularly stressed the need for solutions to health-related and educational issues and particularly stated the following: “We need to do everything possible to make sure the issues of Syrian-Armenians are solved quickly and in a coordinated manner and make sure they settle in Armenia.”
International Consultant of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ricarda McFalls stated that the goal of her work is to develop a plan for refugees’ integration and that she attaches importance to the engagement of all groups of refugees in social programs. “It is necessary to help people become self-sufficient and provide targeted support in order for them to become integrated into society at a rapid pace. It is important for non-governmental organizations to provide support, come together and cooperate,” she added.
President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO George Parseghian presented the activities, achievements and problems of the Center established in 2012.
Issues related to the draft of the 2018-2020 Strategy on Integration of Persons Compulsorily Displaced and Seeking Shelter in Armenia due to the Syrian Conflict” developed by the Ministry of Diaspora were also discussed during the meeting.