The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs’ first "Info Sessions with Repatriates" series launched with the topic of "Repatriation & Integration Issues for Lebanese Armenians.”

About 100 Lebanese Armenian repatriates took part in the discussion held in our Office. Repatriation and Integration Coordinator, Hovhannes Aleksanyan, provided information on the problems and solutions for integrating repatriates, explaining the issues of acquiring citizenship and residency permits, registration, preschool registration, general education, university, health institutions, customs clearance of property and personal vehicles without paying customs tax, social assistance, employment, military service, acquisition of a driver's license, business and other issues.

The repatriates brought up various different topics: state support for rent and control over rising house prices, introduction of a mortgage housing program, health care guarantees, sufficient pay for work, issues of compensation for tuition fees, etc. During the question and answer session, our staff reiterated the problems raised by the repatriates, and some solutions were proposed on the spot.

Some of the issues raised and questions will be discussed with other industry-specific state bodies in order to find solutions.