YEREVAN. – Syrian Armenians are leaving Armenia not because of despair, but to seek a better life.

The Minister of Diaspora, Hranush Hakobyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

She added that the Syrian Armenians’’ argument, according to which there are no conditions in Armenia for living and doing business, is absolutely unfounded.

“Of course, there is poverty and unemployment in Armenia,” Hakobyan said. “[But] I don’t accept the matter of not creating conditions [for them in the country]. (…) They [i.e. the Syrian Armenians who came to Armenia in recent years] were confident that the crisis [in Syria] can be resolved in a few months and they will return. But it wasn’t resolved, and they stayed [in Armenia]. (…) It’s an absolute inaccuracy to accuse of not creating conditions [for them in Armenia].” 

As per the minister, these Syrian Armenians were given unprecedented loan benefits, which helped many of them to get established in Armenia.

“And whoever [from them] went [from Armenia], went to have better conditions,” Hranush Hakobyan added. “There are some who complain, and I say: ‘Let’s objectively discuss, set up a meeting, and let them give you an answer.”