On February 24, the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Armenian General Benevolent Union launched the workshop entitled “From Humanitarian Response to Sustainable Solutions” in the sessions hall of the AGBU Armenian Representation. The workshop is devoted to the problems with facilitating the social integration of Syrian-Armenians displaced and having settled in Armenia as a result of the Syrian war.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan, RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashot Hovakimyan, Director of the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Razmig Panossian and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Bradley Busetto delivered their welcome speeches.

Greeting the participants of the workshop, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan praised the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia and the ongoing activities of the AGBU aimed at helping solve Syrian-Armenians’ issues and helping  them integrate into the society.

The minister also attached importance to the role and willingness of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and its active efforts to help Syrian-Armenians.

In her speech, Hranush Hakobyan also indicated the support that state bodies, religious organizations, as well as pan-Armenian, charitable and international organizations are providing to help solve the issues facing Syrian-Armenians.

“It is clear that most Syrian-Armenians have integrated and are working in Armenia, but there are some complications, especially in regard to housing and employment. We are trying to combine the efforts of not only international organizations, but also pan-Armenian benevolent organizations and be able to help them so that every compatriot definitely receives the payment for rent that he or she needs,” the minister mentioned, adding that 800 Syrian-Armenian families received the equivalent of $200 dollars in Armenian drams every month so that they can pay their apartment rents.

After the opening speeches, the workshop continues with four panel discussions during which the representatives of the government agencies involved with the issues of Syrian-Armenians in Armenia, as well as non-governmental, international and pan-Armenian organizations will discuss issues related to Syrian-Armenians’ integration, education, as well as social and psychological support for them. The goal of the workshop is to gather resources to solve the indicated problems, specify the paths to solve them and coordinate the proposals expected to be made.