Tuesday, 29 March 2005
Today RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan has received the delegation of the chiefs of a number of tribe groups based in the north-eastern regions of Syria. Some of them are members of the National Assembly of Syria. The delegation has arrived in Armenia at the initiative of the Armenian community of Syria in the framework of observations of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
By evoking the traditional ties of friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples, Prime Minister A. Margaryan thanked the Arab people and the chiefs of Syrian tribes for those reckless efforts, which had resulted in tens of thousands of saved Armenian lives by providing refuge and safety to the families displaced in the fatal days of early 1915 when the Armenian Genocide was being committed in the Ottoman Turkey. Expressing his confidence that the descendants of Genocide survivors continued as dignified citizens of Syria as they had done so before and were taking an active part in the social and political life of that country, Mr. Margaryan said to be hopeful that this would be conducive to the deepening of the mutually beneficial relationship between the two States and peoples. The Prime Minister indicated that at this point of time as Armenians worldwide were commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Genocide, our people sought to pay tribute to all those who had taken a hand in the efforts aimed at condemning internationally this awful crime and went on to stress the need in consolidating the efforts of all the States and peoples of the world towards this end. He advised that the GoA had established a government commission to organize and coordinate the events dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Genocide, including an international conference with a chief purpose of not only awakening reminiscences of the century-old crime, but also sending out a reminder of the need in condemning and preventing such evils in future whoever was the victim.
Asked by the members of the delegation, the Prime Minister briefed them on the current political and economic situation in Armenia, the prospects for development and the relationship with the neighboring countries. With reference to the problems of regional concern, Mr. Margaryan prioritized the final settlement of the Syrian-Lebanese political relationship and the establishment of a lasting peace in the Middle East. As for the strengthening of the existing ties between Armenia and Syria, among other key factors, the head of the Armenian government singled out the activities of the intergovernmental commission.
Appreciative of the warm reception given by the government and the people of Armenia, the chiefs of Syrian tribe groups noted, for their part, that by extending a helping hand to the Armenians in distress several decades before, their ancestors had done the minimum called for by their inner conscience and the human sense of duty. They stressed that Armenians and Arabs continued living in perfect peace and full harmony in Syria and took the opportunity to extend their appreciation of the good-will and benevolence shown to the Syrian students studying in Armenia.
