  Armenian-Turkish border opening not to entail flow of migrantsDecember 18, 2009 - 13:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The opening of Armenian-Turkish border will not necessarily entail flow of migrants, according to Gagik Yeganyan, Head of Migration Service at Armenia's Ministry of Territorial Administration. "Migration flows tend to intensify in view of lessening obstacles to crossing the border," he told a news conference in Yerevan on Friday. At that, he noted that an open border does not mean that anyone wishing to cross the it will be free to so without a visa permit (as is the case with Iran) or relevant legal bases (in case of leaving for Georgia). Yeganyan accounted for the "flow" of Turkish migrants by the absence of bans on Turkish citizens' entry to Armenia. "They might have as well come before the opening of border, why didn't they to that?" he asked. Yeganyan said the number of migrants has grown 4 times over the recent 8 years (2000-2008), with 288 thousand people leaving Armenia for Turkey and 294 thousand migrating in the opposite direction. As to the data published by Turkey, he said it provides wrong information by saying that there are around 50-70 thousand illegal Armenian migrants working in the country. As shown by the official data of Turkish statistical service, the negative balance of migration flows made 5 238 people.   Top stories As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with Stephan Schütz, Executive Partner at Gerkan, Marg and Partners. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said.   Partner news |  Related sections Latest news Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29  Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said.Russia accuses West of preparing invasion of CSTO countries NATO is preparing an invasion of the CSTO countries, the number of provocations in the air is growing, Sergei Shoigu has said.Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution.U.S. “deeply troubled” by Azerbaijan's arrest of civil society members The United States is deeply troubled by the continued arrest of members of Azerbaijani civil society, Matthew Miller has said. |
