ArmInfo. Few Syrian Armenians want to move to Armenia today, Maria Gabrielyan, Spokesperson of the Syria-based "Relief to Syrian Armenians JSC," told a news conference in Yerevan, on October 26.
In her words, many Armenians in Syria have enough money to leave Syria, but they do not want to do it as they hope that the situation will stabilize in the country. There are people who want to leave the country but have no money, as air tickets are expensive. "Thanks to the Ministry of Diaspora and charitable organizations, this issue has been settled," Gabrielyan said. She said many Syrians Armenians hesitate to move to Armenia for the fear of failing to find jobs. She urged implementation of a project to employ the Syrian Armenians. Gabrielyan recalled that the 2/3 of the Armenian population in Aleppo has left Syria within 5 years of the crisis.
Maria Gabrielyan said what is taking place in Syria cannot be described with a single word "war," terror reigns the country, elderly people and children are suffering violence. The part of Aleppo under control of the IS is suffering most. Permanent rocket shelling and bombardments result in death of civilians. Besides, the city has no electric power. The water supply problem was certainly settled by UN.
"At the same time," Maria Gabrielyan said, "It is hard to agree with the West saying that the Government troops and Russia bomb Aleppo. After every rocket shelling, the source of shelling and the country the bombs were made in are specified along with many other details; and it is not the government troops that shell." In her words, there is no moderate opposition in the country; there are government troops and terrorists - more than 14 groups of terrorists in Aleppo alone.
Editor-in-chief of Azdak newspaper (Lebanon), Shahan Gantaaryan, in turn, compared the war in Syria with the WWII as Big Powers are involved in it and act within their interests. There is information too, he said, urging to examine every data published. "International actors blame Russia for bombing civilians, while they need to analyze who feeds Islamists," the journalist said.
According to the Diaspora Ministry of Armenia, within 5 years, the Armenian community in Armenia reduced from 120,000 to 20,000 people. Another 20,000 were sheltered in Armenia, of which 13,000 were naturalized. According to Aleppo Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church, around 10 thousand Armenians still remain in the city. Two dozens of Syrian Armenians were transported to Armenia on October 17, Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan stated.