Diaspora ministry addresses issues faced by Syrian Armenians

By Asbarez | Thursday, 10 December 2015

Diaspora Minister addressing issues Syrian Armenians face

Diaspora Minister addressing issues Syrian Armenians face (Source: Armenpress)

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Currently, there are nearly 17,000 Syrian-Armenians in the Republic of Armenia. Between 2012 to 2015, 12,000 Syrian-Armenians received their Armenian passports. 165 Syrian-Armenians received a permit for residence, while 2,200 applied to the Ministry of Diaspora in regards to finding a job. Over 500 Syrian Armenians have found jobs at small businesses owned by Syrian Armenians, while 85 Syrian-Armenians have been financed by Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center of Armenia to launch economic activities. At this moment over 1,000 Syrian-Armenian families receive house rental fees from different charitable organizations. Syrian-Armenians have also been provided with health and legal assistance. This data was released by Armenian Diaspora Ministry Chief of Staff Firdus Zakaryan on December 10.

According to “Armenpress”, discussion had begun at the Ministry of Diaspora over the issues that the Syrian Armenians were facing. Director of the Armenian Representation of the AGBU Hovik Yordekyan mentioned that in addition to educational scholarships provided by the Armenian Government to the Syrian-Armenians, financial assistance has been provided also by AGBU and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, funding another two dozen students.

Summing up the session, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan mentioned that those involved in the Inter-Agency Commission on the Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues have been responsible in their activities. The Minister expressed deep gratitude to all the agencies, charity foundations, NGOs and religious establishments for their diligent work. The Minister stated that the issue of housing and job remains the key problem which must be overcome by joint efforts.’


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