Inter-Agency Committee on Coordinating Syrian-Armenian’s Issues Meets in Yerevan

YEREVAN — An extraordinary session of the inter-agency committee on coordinating Syrian-Armenian’s issues took place on October 11 at the Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia. The session focused on the issues of supporting Syrian-Armenians who have moved to Armenia due to the escalation of the situation in Syria and those who are still in Syria and wish to move to Armenia.

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan informed the present that the Ministry permanently keeps in touch with Armenian organizations in Syria, as well as Armenia’s Consul General for assessing the situation and rendering necessary aid. She added that only 4 families moved to Armenia from Syria during the last 10 days. Media reports alleging that there is panic in Syria and many wish to come to Armenia is exaggerated. At the same time she informed that the two airplanes carrying humanitarian aid to Syria by the assignment of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan have successfully landed and been distributed. Hranush Hakobyan noted that the pivotal issue for now is providing the Syrian-Armenians who have arrived in Armenia with shelter, food and job.

AGBU board member, coordinator of Middle East and Armenia programs Vazgen Yakubian mentioned that after the recent developments in Syria the AGBU has set an extraordinary fund for helping Syrian Armenians.

Head of “Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues” NGO Lena Halajyan stressed the importance of not politicizing the issue of transporting Syrian-Armenians to the Motherland. “Various fake organizations are established for allegedly supporting the Syrian-Armenians. I have to mention with sorrow that a number of media representatives manipulate the issue of Syrian Armenians for expanding their audience, as a result of which, unfortunately, false information is spread, leaving under shadow the huge works done”, she said.