YEREVAN. – Repatriates should know that Armenia expects them, head of ARF Dashnaktsutyun, MP Vahan Hovhannisyan said at the Parliament on Wednesday.

He brought a recent example published on the website of the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora.

“Armenia expects an influx of our compatriots from Diaspora. It is also expected that on average each of them will contribute $50,000 to purchasing a house and investing in economy. Thus, if you have not this sum of money, then ‘Armenia-it is not you?’ [‘Armenia-it is you’, is the motto of events, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence],” asked Hovhannisyan and added that repatriates are faced with strict bureaucracy, which does not correspond to the fact that historical homeland is ready to accept them.

In response, the Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan said that cooperation with each of the compatriots depends on a concrete program.

“Return can be repatriate’s own initiative. In this case we tell him all the relevant information on procedure connected to the residence in Armenia. However, if our compatriots come with a certain goal, for example, job, then they settle for it,” the Minister added.

Regarding legal issues, simplification in the procedure is hardly justified. Armenia should know why these people come to the state and what activity they are going to carry out. Consequently, the legality of their stay in Armenia should be documented, Hakobyan concluded.