The Inter-Agency Commission on Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues held a subsequent session at the RA Ministry of Diaspora on December 2. The session was moderated by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

RA Deputy Minister of Justice Arman Tatoyan delivered a report on the issues concerning Syrian-Armenians and the activities carried out by the RA Ministry of Justice. Tatoyan presented the events held by the ministry and certain problems and mentioned that nearly 20 legal acts concerning Syrian-Armenians have been adopted since 2012. He attached special importance to the amendment made to the RA Law “On State Duties” and the Armenian government’s decision on setting a privilege for the state duty. According to the decision, foreign nationals of Armenian descent whose countries are in a situation that causes a threat to their lives and health shall be exempt from paying state duties. Tatoyan also attached importance to the issue of setting in the Customs Code privileges under the temporary customs regime and talked about finding new solutions for the registration of civil acts.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attached special importance to the several changes aimed at simplifying the acquisition of citizenship for Syria-Armenians who don’t have birth certificates and proposed to publish advisory booklets for Syrian-Armenians written in classic Armenian.

Head of the Department for Monitoring of Foreign Economic Activity and Statistics at the RA Ministry of Finance Karen Beglaryan talked about the issues related to taxation and customs in Armenia for the Armenians of Syria, as well as the Armenians of other countries in states of emergency. Beglaryan mentioned that, based on the government’s decisions, Syrian-Armenians shall be exempt from paying customs fees for the cars that they import to the Republic of Armenia.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan mentioned that Ukrainian-Armenians should also be exempt from paying the customs fee.

oordinator for the Capacity Building and Improvement of Living Standards for Refugees Program of Save the Children international non-governmental organization Tamara Barbakadze presented the organization’s past and upcoming programs aimed at supporting Syrian-Armenians. Barbakadze mentioned that the organization is currently carrying out a program aimed at ensuring the integration of Syrian-Armenian refugees in Armenia, adding that the new program was launched in September 2014 and will end in late 2015.

Program Director for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Anahit Gasparyan presented the Committee’s programs carried out in the healthcare and agriculture sectors, as well as programs for community development. The organization has provided Syrian-Armenians with clothes and school accessories for children. The organization also hosts Armenian language courses and provides psychological support.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the integration of Syrian-Armenians and emphasized the importance of solving the issues related to housing, rents, employment and healthcare.