YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Syrian-Armenian students in Yerevan held a conference on Wednesday during which they discussed their immigrant community’s issues and problems and approaches to potential solutions.
As Armenia’s Ministry of the Diaspora reported, during the opening of the congress, entitled, “Displacement, Education, Commitment,” Minister Hranush Hakobyan expressed gratitude to the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for their active support to reimburse the tuition for Syrian-Armenian students having moved to Armenia as a result of the war in Syria.
“Of course, we wouldn’t want to hold this congress and would like to invite students of the Syrian-Armenian community to the Homeland to take training courses and gain more knowledge. Unfortunately, today, we are witnessing the decline in the number of Armenians in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine. As the Homeland of all Armenians around the world, Armenia is ready to receive all Armenians. The issue of connecting the youth to the homeland is a particularly major issue during implementation of activities with Diaspora Armenians,” the minister said.
The Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues held a regular session at the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. The session was moderated by Minister Hranush Hakobyan. Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Justice Arman Tatoyan delivered a report on the issues concerning Syrian-Armenians and the activities carried out by the Ministry of Justice. Tatoyan presented the events held by the ministry and certain issues and mentioned that nearly 20 legal acts concerning Syrian-Armenians have been adopted since 2012.
During the meeting, special importance was attached to the amendment made to the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On State Fines” and the Armenian government’s decision on setting a privilege for state fines on the basis of that amendment. According to that amendment, foreign nationals of Armenian descent from countries that are in a state of emergency causing a threat to their life and health shall be exempt from paying a state fine. Importance was also attached to the issue of setting in the Customs Code privileges under the temporary customs regime. The issue of finding new solutions for the registration of civil acts was also presented.
No conference needed, you must stay there in your true homeland. There is no reason to be in Syria after 20 years of Armenian independence. What purpose does it serve to languish on foreign lands, especially one that is in turmoil.
In a related issue, the Armenia government must do more to make the western Armenian dialect more common in Armenia. Most western Armenian speakers feel isolated and foreign in a society that is completely oblivious to their way of life. Assimilation is one thing, but a total transformation of one’s language and lifestyle is perhaps the primary reason why so many shy away from the notion of settling there.