On March 30, within the scope of the Syrian-Armenians Support Program, another batch of clothes collected and obtained by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) were distributed during a ceremony held at the office of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO operating at the AGBU Vahe Karapetian Center. Among the attendees were RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan, Head of the Department for Armenian Communities of the Near East and the Middle East at the RA Ministry of Diaspora Levon Antonyan, ” President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO Lena Haladjian, Member of the AGBU Central Board Vasken Yacoubian, Acting Director of the AGBU Armenia Office Hovik Yordekyan, as well as other guests.

“This time, the Gourdikian family from France is supporting the Syrian-Armenians in Armenia. Through their TEXTO Company, they have provided 155,000 Euros worth of over 4,200 pieces of men’s and women’s clothing for all ages. The clothes will be distributed to nearly 1,000 Syrian-Armenian families in Armenia for several days. The Gourdikians undertook a similar initiative last year as well, and we express our deep gratitude to them for that,” President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO Lena Haladjian told Hayern Aysor.

On behalf of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan also expressed gratitude to the Gourdikians for their assistance and voiced hope that such programs would be ongoing. “This act is like a unique manifestation of pan-national assistance to the Syrian-Armenians, who are in difficult conditions. The fact that the treasure of us Armenians is our national unity that helps us get out of desperate solutions is irrefutable,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor’s correspondent, the Syrian-Armenians also expressed their gratitude for the support and said such initiatives make them strong.

Over the past four years, the AGBU has provided $3.2 million dollars in assistance to Syrian-Armenians in Syria, Armenia and Lebanon.