YEREVAN. – The social and humanitarian issues in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have already been resolved. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mesrop Arakelyan said this at Wednesday’s special session of the National Assembly of Armenia.

The minister, in particular, assured the parliamentarians that at present, there were no social and humanitarian problems in post-war Karabakh. "The most important confirmation of that is the fact that there were several hundred inhabitants in Karabakh on November 10, whereas today the population of Karabakh is more than 100 thousand people," Arakelyan said.

According to the minister, all those who have a permanent residence in Karabakh, as well as some residents—about 5,000—who lost their homes due to a number of territories coming under the control of Azerbaijan, have returned to Artsakh.

He also reminded that all civilian infrastructures in Karabakh were destroyed as a result of the recent war, but now the natural gas and electricity supplies have been fully restored, and communication has been partially restored.

In addition, the government of Armenia has provided 15 billion drams in direct assistance to the people of Artsakh; and this assistance, according to the minister, enables the people of Karabakh to meet their needs.

According to Arakelyan, the Karabakh authorities are implementing a number of programs that will significantly change the quality of life of the local residents.

At the same time, the minister announced that the budget revenues of Artsakh have decreased by 50 billion drams, but added that this amount will be covered by the state budget of Armenia.

He also recalled that despite the difficulties, the payment of pensions and salaries of state officials does not stop in Artsakh. "Armenia continues to be the guarantor of Karabakh's social security; and there is no difference between the citizens of Karabakh and Armenia in this issue," Mesrop Arakelyan emphasized.