 Germany launches €150 mln aid package for returning immigrants December 9, 2016 - 18:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Germany has pledged to spend €150 million helping failed asylum seekers and immigrants return home, the minister of development said in an interview published on Friday, December 9, according to AFP. The aid fund will benefit both failed asylum seekers and immigrants who choose to return to their home countries. "For the next three years, we will put aside €50 million a year for this return programme," minister Gerd Müller told Augsburger Allgemeine daily. The funds will be made available to Iraqis, Afghans and immigrants from the Balkans. The aid will help those immigrants "make a new start" in their home countries, Müller said. "We can offer them education, professional training, employment and social benefits." Since receiving 900,000 asylum requests in 2015, Germany has tightened up its borders and regulations for would be immigrants. Under pressure from her Christian Democratic Union party, Chancellor Angela Merkel has got tougher on immigration ahead of her bid to win a fourth term in next year's elections, vowing never again to allow such a wave of arrivals from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Her previous "open door" policy towards refugees has drawn increasing criticism, in part due to a number of high-profile crimes committed by recently-arrived immigrants. Last week a teenage Afghan asylum seeker was arrested on suspicion of the rape and murder of a German student. Last month, German police arrested seven Afghan asylum seekers on suspicion of repeatedly raping an Iranian teenager in a refugee camp.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Armenian cemetery in Fresno hit by arsons six times since January  Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance.Iran vows to “decisively” defend sovereignty, national interests The Iranian embassy in Armenia has defended its “defensive and proportional action in in occupied Palestine.”Armenian shooter Elmira Karapetyan Armenian shooter Elmira Karapetyan won gold at the ISSF World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rio de Janiero.Britain said to have entered talks to deport migrants to Armenia Britain is said to have entered talks to replicate the Rwanda migrant deportation scheme with Armenia. |
