ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՏԱՐԱԾՔԱՅԻՆ ԿԱՌԱՎԱՐՄԱՆ ՆԱԽԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ
ՄԻԳՐԱՑԻՈՆ ԳՈՐԾԱԿԱԼՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
CLUSTER PROCESS MEETING -
EUROPEAN AND SOUTHERN CAUCASUS COUNTRIES
TOPIC IV: READMISSION AGREEMENTS
STATEMENT OF
Mr. Gagik YEGANYAN
HEAD OF MIGRATION AGENCY
MINISTRY OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION OF RA
10 -11 May, 2006, Brussels
Dear Mr. Chairman,
Dear Meeting Participants,
In the stage when illegal migration phenomenon manifests itself through detection of illegal migrants in the countries of destination, it is necessary to organize their return, and this can be done by signing readmission agreements. Of course, return of illegal migrants to their countries of citizenship or permanent residence can be done without signing such agreements as each person has the fundamental right to return to his country of citizenship. We need such agreements mainly as a necessary legal ground under the entire process of return. Readmission agreements are in general regulating issues such as identification documents of a person, the competent authorities of the parties, term for inquiries and its replies, financial issues for organizing readmission etc.
Willingness of the countries of origin (such as Armenia) to conclude readmission agreements with the countries of destination certifies that the country realizes the importance of organizing the return of its nationals appeared in illegal migrant status in the foreign countries. Besides, cooperation in such delicate issues creates good perspectives for establishing effective cooperation in the other aspects of combating illegal migration (such as preventive measures, reintegration assistance etc.).
I should mention that conclusion of readmission agreements in Armenia is considered as a constituent part of the policy carried out for fighting against illegal migration, and Armenia is actively involved in this process. Readmission agreements have already been signed with three states - Danish Kingdom, Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Lithuania. Negotiations on readmission of illegal migrants are over with Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Kingdom of Sweden and Benelux countries and negotiations are underway with Russian Federation, Republic of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Norway. I would like to mention that Armenia, in compliance with the acceded international commitments, is always ready to enter into negotiations with the authorities of the countries concerned.
Dear Mr. Chairman, as a pivotal part of the readmission agreements with regard to readmission of the citizens, Armenia applies an internationally approved approach, that is: if a person is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, he will be readmitted to Armenia unconditionally. As to the citizens from the third countries and statelessness persons, the Armenian party is always guided by the principle, which is to readmit only those citizens from the third countries and statelessness persons who, at the moment of identifying their unauthorized stay in the territory of the destination country, had valid residence permit or valid entry visa of the Republic of Armenia.
I would like to mention that the implementation of readmission agreements signed by Armenia shows that problems arise regarding the term of replying to requests for readmitting the person concerned. The reason is that there is no common computerized database in Armenia and the competent authorities have no possibility to identify the citizenship of a person in a short term.
Another problem connected with the implementation of signed readmission agreements is identification of the identity and nationality of those persons who “lost” their identification documents upon entering the territory of the European countries. In such cases an effective measure can be the organization of identification process of the persons concerned in the border crossing points of Armenia. But we don’t have facilities in Yerevan airport “Zvartnots” to keep people there temporarily. And we think that your support in the creation of such a center in “Zvartnots” airport could be a logical continuation of cooperation in the framework of combating illegal migration.
Thank you.
