On June 27, the Inter-Agency Commission on Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues held its subsequent session at the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. Among the participants were representatives of government agencies and non-governmental and international organizations dealing with the issues of Syrian-Armenians.

Head of the Department of Social Security at Yerevan Municipality Ruzanna Zakaryan delivered a report on the social support programs for Syrian-Armenians residing in Yerevan. Presenting the activities carried out in 2012-2017, the speaker particularly stated that the number of families engaged in social support programs has grown and that 229 Syrian-Armenian families have been engaged in those programs this year. Free medical aid has been provided to 3,400 Syrian-Armenians who have addressed medical institutions under the subordination of Yerevan Municipality alone.

General Secretary of the Armenian Red Cross Society Anna Yeghiazaryan delivered a report on the past and upcoming support programs for Syrian-Armenians. The Minister of Diaspora considered the activities of the Society exemplary and stated that the experience can be shared with other non-governmental organizations.

President of the Union of Syrian-Armenians NGO Nerses Kivo delivered a report on the activities of Syrian-Armenian businessmen and presented the upcoming programs of the Union. Kivo also touched upon the activities being carried out with Syrian-Armenian businessmen, the current issues and the paths for solving those issues.

Summing up the session, the Minister expressed gratitude to all the state, non-governmental and international organizations and institutions for their work. She attached importance to the Syrian-Armenians’ economic integration and asked all the organizations to set aside a certain component for support to Syrian-Armenian businesses in their respective action plans. “We must do everything we can to solve Syrian-Armenians’ issues on the spot, support the Armenians in Syria and help them take care of their needs. Thank you for the good work you have done,” the Minister particularly mentioned.