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.