Provincial migration information centers have opened in Armenia to assist Armenians illegally living in European countries to settle in a new environment upon return to their homeland. The centers opened from the beginning of April in 4 provinces – Lori, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, and in Yerevan and will assist Armenians who have returned from European countries, as well as to give advice on legal settlement for those who are emigrating to European countries.

The activity of the provincial migration information centers is managed by People In Need (PIN) Czech organization.

The centers were opened within the framework of the program “Cooperation between countries of migration and third countries providing shelter,” which PIN implements jointly with the Armenian Association of United Nations Organization.

“In the conditions of the growing economic crisis in European countries, the situation of the Armenians illegally residing there will become worse. That is why our centers will help them not to lose hope upon returning to their home country, and to be able to adjust to Armenian reality,” says Galust Nanyan, PR person of the Armenian branch of PIN.

“The centers will aid the governmental and non-governmental organizations to control migration flows – involving the Armenian Diaspora to prevent out-migration,” Nanyan believes.

He assures the program will make it possible for the Armenians who found shelter in foreign lands not only to return to their homeland, but also to get help settling down and starting their own business.

According to the program’s estimates, about 1,000 have expressed a wish to return.

The provincial migration information centers have already started work, waiting for immigrants.

Vanadzor provincial migration center, which was re-opened in Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly defending human rights, has already given legal advice to those who wish to emigrate to the Russian federation. The center coordinator, lawyer Araik Zalyan says that the applicants wanted to find out about the legal ways of leaving for the Russian Federation and working there.

Apart from providing legal advice, Vanadzor center and others will make it possible for those who have moved from abroad to Armenia to set up their own businesses.

The migration center will provide up to 4,000 Euros worth of furniture or equipment to those who volunteer to return to their homeland – to facilitate their new businesses. This will help the returnees and their families to settle in Armenia, without thinking about going back.

“A person may want to open up a store or start a business in another sphere, we will support them within that amount,” says lawyer Zalyan, who will also provide legal support.

For instance, he will help them to resolve the legal issues related to their settling in Armenia. Vandzor migation center will also help the citizens who have been away for many years and do not speak Armenian or Russian.

“We will cooperate with schools to arrange Armenian and Russian classes for them,” Zalyan says.

In the conditions of economic crisis, RA migration agency cooperates with various interantional organizations to bring Armenian citizens back from European countries, as well as to prevent out-migtaion.

During the “Program to support RA citizens returning from Switzerland” implemeted until the end of last year 22 families returned from Switzerland to Aremnia: a total of 52 people in 4 years.
Six families that have returned to their homelnad were given loans to set up small businesses. The loans were used to grow mushrooms, to breed cattle, to make furniture, to preserve fresh fruit and vegetables and to do trade. They received psychological, medical and social support and some were given jobs.

Migration information centers will function until 2011.

RA Regional Management Ministry’s Migration Agency statistics show that the number of those arriving in Armenia is smaller than that of the people leaving the country. 83,691 people came back, while about 3,000 more left.