YEREVAN, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN. 338.3 thousand applications on granting a refuge were received in 51 countries of the world in 2007. This index has increased by about 10% compared with 2006, mainly due to the situation in Iraq. Gagik Yeganian, the Head of the Migration Agency of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration, said at the April 15 press conference adding that 8% growth falls to citizens of Iraq. He said that 3925 RA citizens applied for receiving a refuge abroad in 2007. This index has decreased by 6% compared with 2006. According to G. Yeganian, over the past three years RA citizens apply mainly to France to receive a refuge. The number of these citizens made 1924 in 2007, 400 RA citizens applied to Austria and 400 to Belgium. According to the observation of the head of the agency, in the previous years RA citizens preferred Poland, Germany, Benelux countries, Czech Republic for a refuge. G. Yeganian also said that the prevaling part of RA citizens' applications of receiving a right of refuge is rejected.

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