A/HRC/8/6 page 11 2. Working visits, follow-up activities and other actions related to internal displacement issues Armenia 38. At the invitation of the Government, the Representative undertook a working visit to this country from 12 to 15 April 2007, following the visit made by his predecessor in 2001. During his visit, the Representative met the Prime Minister and the principal senior officials responsible for internal displacement issues, as well as representatives of international and non-governmental organizations. He also went to Yerevan and to Chambarak in Gegharkunik province. 39. According to a survey conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Department of State for Migration and Refugees, 8,399 people, or 10 per cent of those initially displaced by conflict, are still displaced. Meanwhile, the number of persons who are still displaced following the earthquake that devastated the north-west of the country in December 1998 remains unknown. During his field visits, the Representative noted that some of the displaced persons are living in conditions which give cause for concern, sometimes with no income, and are completely dependent on government humanitarian assistance programmes. 40. The Representative observes that local reintegration is the preferred approach in Armenia. He considers that Armenia is unique in that it can resolve the remaining cases of internal displacement and thereby graduate from the list of countries with internal displacement problems. In that regard, he calls on the Government to adopt a programme of support for displaced persons wishing to return, and appeals to the international community to support its implementation. The Representative transmitted a memorandum containing his conclusions and detailed recommendations to the Armenian authorities in May 2007. Côte d’Ivoire 41. In recent months important developments have taken place in Côte d’Ivoire, opening up new prospects for its displaced population. The signing of the Ouagadougou Agreement constitutes a major landmark in the country’s recent history. On 9 March 2007, the Representative wrote to the President of the Republic and the Secretary-General of the Forces Nouvelles in order to draw their attention to a number of points which he deemed vital to the process of national reconciliation, namely: helping displaced persons to recover their property and belongings or providing them with appropriate compensation; paying particular attention to the land issue; and ensuring that displaced persons participate in all stages of the electoral process. 42. Subsequently, at the invitation of the Government, the Representative undertook a follow-up visit to Côte d’Ivoire in June 2007. In addition to Abidjan, he visited the Guiglo, Bloléquin and Bouaké regions. He noted that, since the Ouagadougou Agreement, the situation has calmed down considerably and some spontaneous returns have already taken place in the north and the west of the country. He emphasizes, however, that major challenges remain with regard to protection and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons, and that just and lasting solutions must be found for the displaced in order to achieve long-term peace. In his view, unless