Karine Hakobyan, member of the “Assistance and repatriation of Syrian-Armenians” initiative group gave an interview to Aravot Daily commenting on president Sargsyan’s criticism-talk at government’s session where the issue of Syrian-Armenian repatriation was touched upon. “Something has been done in this direction, but that was out of the total problem. The government must realize the main problem. The RA society, the public authorities, and the Diaspora cannot understand the idea that we have to put forward idea of the central Armenia. We should bind the idea of our future and security with Armenia.”
Mrs. Hakobyan noted that they (initiative) had offered to set up an intergovernmental commission to deal with these problems. Only one body was added in the Ministry of Diaspora, which is not able to solve these problems.
“The Ministry of Diaspora has no mandate. For example, the Migration Department doesn’t obey the Ministry; in fact, the right hand does not know what to does the left one. There is a big hole in coordination. ”
K. Hakobyan was asked to clarify whether sufficient steps had been taken so far to solve the problems of Syrian-Armenians. She said that there steps had been taken but still they were not enough.” The main task is to provide Syrian-Armenians with work. In the support, there is also the problem of the RA’s interest.”
Two days ago at the meeting held in the RA government the President referred to the problem of Syrian-Armenians. “Armenia’s state institutions have a special role in this moment. It is very important that public authorities act operatively and co-ordinated, to be able to respond adequately.”
