19,500 people from Syria received Armenian citizenship in 2012-2017
The government of Armenia has initiated an integration strategy for the Syrians displaced during the war in the Arab country and those who have requested shelter in Armenia. The draft strategy, named “The 2018-2022 Strategy on Integration of Persons Compulsorily Displaced and Seeking Shelter in Armenia due to the Syrian Conflict,” was posted today at E-draft.am for public discussion.
The explanation note of the draft document reads that since the beginning of the Syrian conflict more than 22,00 people with majority of them ethnic Armenians have found shelter in Armenia with 20,000 of them still living in the country.
The draft under consideration stresses the need for a switch from short-term support to long-term integration policies to facilitate full integration of the displaced people in the country.
It is noted that the Republic of Armenia provides citizenship to Syrians-Armenians through simplified procedure. According to the statistics, in 2012-2017 around 19,500 people from Syria received Armenian citizenship, while 2,000 received the right of residence.