OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan received today the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres who has arrived to Armenia to participate at the international conference of donor organizations.

 The President hailed activities of the UNHCR and the personal role of the High Commissioner in the resolution of the refugee related problems in Armenia. The President of Armenia expressed gratitude for the assistance programs implemented in our country until now and underscored that Armenia stands ready to continue to cooperate actively with the UNHCR Office to address the refugee related issues and aimed at the protection of the refugees’ basic rights.

 Serzh Sargsyan noted that from the very first day refugees started to arrive to our country, the Republic of Armenia adopted the policy of integrating them into our society and never politicized the refugee issue. In the President’s words, in the framework of the Ministerial meeting in Geneva, in December 2011, Armenia will reiterate her commitments regarding the needs of the most vulnerable groups of refugees and improvement of the legal field pertinent to this area. The President of Armenia stressed the importance of our participation at the Geneva conference in the framework of the events which will be held in Geneva to honor the 150th birth anniversary of the League of Nations first high commissioner for refugees, great humanist F. Nansen. Serzh Sargsyan said that Nansen was one of those prominent figure who deserve our perpetual gratitude and noted that his name is dear to every Armenian.

 The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres spoke with satisfaction about works aimed at granting Armenian citizenship to the refugees, their integration into society, and protection of their rights. According to the Mr. Guterres, his visit and the fact that the conference has been held in Armenia provides an additional opportunity to coordinate efforts directed at the resolution of the refugee related problems in Armenia.