Thursday, 9 August 2012
Armenian children from Damascus and Aleppo will come to Armenia: Government to take charge of travel and holiday costs in cooperation with the private sector
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan – Good afternoon, dear colleagues. We will begin with Vatche Terteryan’s questions since he is to deal with Syrian-Armenian children’s affairs. Today we sent the first plane to Damascus to collect some 120 children who will spend their summer holiday in our camp.
This question featured on our previous sitting’s agenda of this question, and we allocated funds from the State budget. Perhaps it would be better, Mr. Terteryan, if we started from here: let us see what has been done so far to receive the children.
First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration Vache Terteryan - Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. An Armavia plane left for Damascus as early as at 10.30 a.m. It is due back at 14.30 - 15.00 p.m. If everything goes well and the plane lands in Yerevan as scheduled, we will have the children accommodated by 16.00 - 17.00 p.m. Mr. Prime Minister, you will be informed thereof in due course.
Your instructions have been met, as a whole: the camp is ready to receive the children. All the ministries and government departments concerned – the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Diaspora, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Police - have complied with their task.
Corresponding instructions are out, a small task force is up to keep in touch with me so that we can solve any issue on the basis of emergency. The administration of Kotayk marz will have health services provided on the spot, while at the Ministry of Healthcare shall meet the children and take them as far as the simmer camp.
The Town Hall of Yerevan has contributed largely by allocating the necessary means of conveyance. Getting our notice, the Syrian Ambassador expressed willingness to meet the children in person.
At the airport, we will be accompanied by the representatives of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora ministries. It goes without saying that we will be supported by the whole range of necessary services.
Everything is settled at this moment, with the lists having been agreed with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. We are in touch with the Armenian embassy and the diplomatic structures at Damascus, as well as with the Armenian organizations of Syria. They are now at the local airport, waiting for the plane to take the children to homeland.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan – Very well. We should also thank the private sector as this project is implemented through a public-private sector cooperation scheme. Note that two more planes are due to be sent to Syria to bring about 300 children from Aleppo, and the public will be properly informed thereof.
We have come across with a number of challenges that we are tackling in an operative manner. A special vote of thanks is due to the Prometeus Bank which has financed the first flight. We will make public the name of any such organization as will co-finance the second flight together with the State.
