OREANDA-NEWS. July 21, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan invited a working meeting on the issues related to the migration policy. At the meeting discussed were migration tendencies and governmental policy in that area. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorkian, Head of Presidential Staff Karen Karapetian, Head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakopian, Chief of Police Alik Sarkissian, Head of Migration Service at the Ministry of Territorial Administration Gagik Eganian, and Head of the Armenian Statistical Service Stepan Mnatsakanian.

 In his remarks, the President of Armenia called attention of those present to the importance of public presentation of the issues existing in the area. “When we don’t pay due attention to the regular public comments regarding the numbers and tendencies, active speculations based on insufficient conclusions and superficial analysis become unavoidable,” stressed the President of Armenia. As a recent example he noted that after publishing numbers on passenger traffic for January-April, the “Fourty-five thousand people left Armenia in four months” phrase has become a slogan for certain circles and was exploited to its fullest.

 Serzh Sargsyan said that he was following closely public discussions on this issue and believes that our experts and the leaders of the relevant agencies were either unable or didn’t want to come out in public and credibly explain the situation, to urge our political figures before trumpeting any numbers to present all sides of the phenomenon and rely on objective tendencies. “For instance, nobody said that if in the first four months the margin of those leaving from and arriving to Armenia constituted the ever recurring number of 45,000, or as some would say 45,000 people left Armenia. Meanwhile, should anyone bother to view the dynamics of this number in a monthly or quarterly context, it would easily observed that the picture will reverse itself later in the year; in October-December the margin of those returning to and leaving from Armenia will exceed 40,000, or so to speak, 40,000 of those who left Armenia will return. But I don’t think at that time anyone will stand up and say, “Sorry, at the beginning of the year I made wrong analysis.”

 The bizarre speculation that Armenia will become deserted has been so heavily exploited in the political field that has also become the predominant “idйe fix” for the Azeri authorities which do not tire to state publicly that they will see the day, i.e. the day when Armenia is deserted and then will get square with us. It is, of course, an interesting idea, a little funny however interesting indeed. Besides, against the backdrop of recent tumult, the Azeris have also concluded that I, in order to distract attention from the dispute with the opposition, allegedly have engaged myself with the issues related to the strengthening of our army. I can only say that free opposition, which voices sharp criticism related to the development issues is the achievement of our country and our democracy; not all countries have it. Even though I am not inclined to talk fantasies, still have to note that if a normal opposition ever comes into existence in Azerbaijan, or at least people there are allowed to speak freely, I still don’t think we would build our strategy based on the slogans of the Azerbaijani opposition. Only authorities, which have the experience of work with the opposition will comprehend this,” President Sargsyan said in his remarks.

 According to Serzh Sargsyan, processes of migration and emigration have become issues of general interest and concern in Armenia. It is well-known that there is lack or deficiency of statistics regarding migration in Armenia which prevents drawing regular and short-term precise pictures and create an accurate image of the situation and possible developments. According to the President of Armenia, after all migration and working migration are complex phenomena, based on numerous social and economic, cultural and political factors. Besides, in the contemporary world migration has acquired different nature and has become more modern and multifaceted. “Precise data on emigration and permanent residency abroad will be available after the census is conducted in Armenia, preliminary works on the census are already underway, and we will be having results in late February 2012. Meanwhile, conclusions may be drawn from the statistics on the outbound passenger traffic. Only the numbers on those arriving to and departing from Armenia in one year and particularly the margin between the two can shape the picture of migration although they pertain to the people’s movement for all possible reasons. The volume of passenger traffic has increased significantly in recent years. It is a positive phenomenon, which testifies both to the rising interest toward Armenia on behalf of foreign tourists and to external business and personal ties and integration of our compatriots. While in 2000 the general number of population movement made only 857,000 people, in 2007 is was already 2.5 million, and in 2010 it reached 3.5 million people. It means that the number of those arriving to and leaving from Armenia is a little more than the permanent population of Armenia proper. This tendency speaks first of all about general development of the country and its society, particularly about the sharp increase and expansion of business ties, cultural, scientific, educational, tourist and personal relations which are based, of course, on economic capacities. It should be mentioned that people are increasingly moving in and out not only via air but also via rail and auto transport.

 Passenger flows have a pronounced seasonal nature which has been maintained almost unchanged for the last ten years. The number of those leaving exceeds the number of those arriving in January-May, and it remains considerable in summer and September, while in the end of the year – October-December, the number of those arriving rises dramatically. It means that registered tendencies reflect our observation that at the beginning of the year, a part of our population leaves for work abroad, predominantly to the CIS countries, and returns in the end of the year. At the beginning of summer season, the number of tourists arriving to Armenia is on the rise, and in the end of summer the situation is reversed. This picture is totally supported the existing statistical data.

 We are mainly concerned with the negative balance between those leaving and those arriving, i.e. in one year more people leave than enter the country. This tendency has been there from day one of our independence and today it must be in the center of our attention and implemented policies. In 2000 almost 54,000 didn’t come back to Armenia, in 2001 that number was 60,000, then the number decreased and in 2004-06 the balance was positive. In recent years, the number of those who didn’t return to Armenia is around 23,000-29,000.

 As for the first six months of 2011, the picture is as follows: the number of those leaving from Armenia exceeded the number of arrivals by 67,000. This is not a new phenomenon and it goes with the existing tendencies, however it exceeds numbers from previous years. It can be mainly explained by fact that the global economy has overcome the consequences of the crisis and along with the economic recovery, particularly, in Russia, work migration in Armenia has resumed and even gained some speed. Consequently, in 2011 some increase of revenues for the people from work abroad may also be expected.

 Nevertheless, the number of those who look for opportunities outside Armenia, on foreign shores must be considered large and we must, of course, be seriously concerned with this problem and must double our efforts in expediting reformation in our country. The only factor that can eliminate negative balance between those migrating from and those arriving to Armenia is the creation in our country of the very same conditions which people look for elsewhere; there is no other way. Meanwhile, we should of course take measures to reduce that flow. I know of a number of programs that have been developed toward that end. That’s the point of our meeting today - to discuss existing problems and our forthcoming steps,” President Sargsyan said.

 At the meeting, Prime Minister Sarkissian reported on the works conducted by the Government in the framework of the state concept and planned activities, including the steps aimed at the resolution of the problems facing the migration service in 2011, and spoke about the events envisaged by the national program to be implemented in the framework of the Migration policy concept which is to be adopted by the Government this August.

 The Prime Minister assured that a precise plan of action with regard to the issues raised by the President would be drafted and in coming months broad discussions would be held on the issues which concern our society, in order to provide comprehensive answers and to prevent any unnecessary speculations regarding this issue.

 Other participants of the meeting presented their views on migration within their area of expertise, spoke about taken steps and forthcoming programs.