On February 6, the Inter-Agency Commission on Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues held its first session of the year. The session was moderated by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan presented the working plan for the Inter-Agency Commission on Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues in 2015, which will become the guideline for the Commission. The plan was approved by all members of the Commission.

Head of the State Migration Service at the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration Gagik Yeganyan delivered a report on the work with people having arrived from Syria in search of refuge and people with the status of refugee, as well as the current issues. He mentioned that 347 people had submitted applications for shelter in Armenia in 2013 and 2014, of which 288 were provided with shelter and 117 were provided with dwellings. Yeganyan mentioned that the Service has also participated in the social and healthcare support programs for Syrian-Armenians through funding provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Deputy Executive Director of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development National Center of Armenia Karen Gevorgyan presented the programs that the SME DNC has carried out for the development of Syrian-Armenians’ businesses.

Over the past two years, 149 Syrian-Armenians have participated in the business development courses organized by the SME DNC, and the participants with more successful business plans have been provided with special loans.

Deputy Head of the Passports and Visa Department of the Police adjunct to the Government of the Republic of Armenia Mnatsakan Bichakhchyan presented data regarding the Syrian-Armenians having acquired Armenian citizenship and having obtained the residency status of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the current problems in the sector.

President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO Lena Haladjian presented a slide show that showed the Center’s previous and upcoming activities.

The minister praised the efforts of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO and the organizations supporting Syrian-Armenians within the frames of cooperation with the Center.

Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia Christoph Bierwirth also presented the Office’s activities and upcoming programs. Bierwirth emphasized that he has been trying to solve the problems facing displaced Syrian-Armenian families with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the RA Ministry of Diaspora since the very first days of the Syrian conflict, regardless of whether the Syrian-Armenians have Armenian citizenship, a residency status or the status of a refugee. In 2014, the Office carried out several social assistance programs.

Christoph Bierwirth added that those efforts will help make the transition from urgent assistance to sustainable solutions, primarily local integration.

Expressing gratitude to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attached special importance to the effectiveness and continuation of the reimbursement of apartment rents, job placement and the technical assistance programs.

The RA Minister of Diaspora regretted to mention that Syrian-Armenians are still dying and suffering from injuries due to the ongoing conflict in Syria and that many of them are either deprived of their properties, or are barely able to move to Armenia. “Hence, it’s very important to be vigil and care for the Syrian-Armenians in need of assistance,” the minister said in closing.