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SYRIA: CONCERN MOUNTS FOR ARMENIAN COMMUNITY AS FIGHTING REACHES ALEPPO
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
24.07.12 | 14:59
While fighting continues to rage in Syria, its residents, including
Syrian-Armenians continue to escape. According to a United Nations
survey, about 120,000 people have left Syria, most of them for Turkey,
Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
During the recent few days there were heated clashes in capital
city Damascus, as well as near Aleppo, where about 45,000 Armenians
have lived.
It is reported that Syrian-Armenians are being kidnapped and ransoms
are demanded to set them free. Some Armenians have even got warnings
by the rebels not to open their shops.
Despite these disturbing reports, on Sunday a video appeared on YouTube
where one of the generals of the Syrian free army, reporting about
the "liberalization" of Aleppo, which is considered to be the main
residence for President of Syria Bashar al-Assad's supporters, said
that the religious and ethnic minorities, including Armenians had no
reason to be worried about the activations of military actions there,
and that they would defend all of them.
The Syrian-Armenians who came to Armenia, leaving members of their
families, relatives or friends in Aleppo, are worried that the
Aleppo-Yerevan flights are limited, the prices of tickets have risen,
and therefore it becomes difficult to fly to Armenia.
There are two airlines that carry out the Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan
flight once a week - Armenia's national air carrier Armavia and Syrian
Airlines. Both have sold out all tickets up until September. Last
week Armenia's Diaspora Ministry sent a letter to Armavia, asking to
increase the number of flights and lower the ticket prices. Armavia has
not officially stated yet whether it will provide additional flights.
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
24.07.12 | 14:59
While fighting continues to rage in Syria, its residents, including
Syrian-Armenians continue to escape. According to a United Nations
survey, about 120,000 people have left Syria, most of them for Turkey,
Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
During the recent few days there were heated clashes in capital
city Damascus, as well as near Aleppo, where about 45,000 Armenians
have lived.
It is reported that Syrian-Armenians are being kidnapped and ransoms
are demanded to set them free. Some Armenians have even got warnings
by the rebels not to open their shops.
Despite these disturbing reports, on Sunday a video appeared on YouTube
where one of the generals of the Syrian free army, reporting about
the "liberalization" of Aleppo, which is considered to be the main
residence for President of Syria Bashar al-Assad's supporters, said
that the religious and ethnic minorities, including Armenians had no
reason to be worried about the activations of military actions there,
and that they would defend all of them.
The Syrian-Armenians who came to Armenia, leaving members of their
families, relatives or friends in Aleppo, are worried that the
Aleppo-Yerevan flights are limited, the prices of tickets have risen,
and therefore it becomes difficult to fly to Armenia.
There are two airlines that carry out the Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan
flight once a week - Armenia's national air carrier Armavia and Syrian
Airlines. Both have sold out all tickets up until September. Last
week Armenia's Diaspora Ministry sent a letter to Armavia, asking to
increase the number of flights and lower the ticket prices. Armavia has
not officially stated yet whether it will provide additional flights.