The government of Moldova will pay next year an equivalent of 10 dollars a month - 135 lei - in financial assistance to refugees who have qualified for legal stay and work in the ex-Soviet state.

A regulation on financial assistance grants was approved on Wednesday by the cabinet of ministers at the initiative of the State Migration Department.

Department chief Valeriu Munteanu said that the right of refugees to claim financial assistance results from a legislation on refugees status, which took effect on January 1, 2003.

"This assistance accounted for 65 lei, the equivalent of a minimal pension, in 2003, but refugees did not receive anything because no funds were foreseen in the 2003 state budget," he noted. However, it will amount to 135 lei - the size of a minimum pension next year. Difficult economic conditions in Moldova and low incomes are taken into account while legislating how much refugees have to receive, he added.

Under regulation, the monthly allocations will be available for refugees who will request this money and will assume the obligation to reimburse it. The assistance will be granted for maximum six months.

"The refugees will reimburse this money within maximum one year after the termination of the assistance period, if they find a job or a source of revenue," says the document.

As many as 688 cases and 951 applicants were registered since opening of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Moldova until January 2003. Moldova accepted 266 persons as refugees on its territory.