Armenian parliament speaker eyes good prospects of deepening Syria ties

Armenia and Syria have good prospects of deepening their bilateral relations, Armenian Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan told a meeting with Syrian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Ahmad Haj Ibrahim on Tuesday.

"Mirzoyan stressed that the official Yerevan cannot remain indifferent to the situation in Syria and should extend a helping hand the same way Syrians did during the Armenian Genocide," the Armenian government’s press service said.

Armenia’s parliament speaker emphasized that there are good prospects of deepening Armenian-Syrian relations. Mirzoyan noted an important role of inter-parliamentary cooperation, adding that a parliamentary friendship group could give a new impetus to their development.

In his turn, the Syrian envoy described bilateral relations as friendly and brotherly. He also expressed gratitude to Armenia’s authorities for providing Syria with humanitarian assistance and highlighted an important role of Syrian Armenians in the country’s life as well as in enhancing bilateral ties. In this context, he also noted that the issue of restoring Armenian churches had been included in the Syrian government’s program.

Tens of thousands of Armenians found shelter in Syria during the Armenian Genocide that took place in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. A large Armenian community still exists in Syria.

On February 8, a group of specialists from the Armenian Defense Ministry arrived in Syria to carry out a humanitarian mission. The group includes mine clearing specialists, security experts and medical workers. Russia assisted the mission’s members in getting to Syria.