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 “Breath of Syrian-Armenian Culture in Yerevan” charity exhibition-sale is dedicated to the Holy Resurrection this year.  The event organized by RA Ministry of Diaspora have brought together around 50 Syrian-Armenians living in Yerevan to present their handicraft items, silverware, sweets, eastern food and spices.

Ani Shamalyan, who used to work as a teacher in Aleppo, told Panorama.am she had lived in Armenia for more than 4 years.  “I visited the homeland for 15 days, yet I was forces to stay after the drastic deterioration of the situation in Aleppo. We had to do business here. I started cooking confectionary, sweets. I took some classes, obtained new skills and I have been engaged with that up to this day. People have heard about me from these exhibition-sale and I receive orders,” Mrs. Shamalyan said.

She informed that the school in Aleppo he used to work, is still open, yet the house her family lived is in poor state. “As it is said, we get used to living here and do not wish to return,” the Syrian-Armenian teacher said.

Panorama.am reporter met with Aleppo-Armenian couple Raffi and Yoland Rshtunis who are specialized in the production of Syrian sweets. The family works in their house, accept orders and participate in exhibition-sales. “It has already been 5 years we live in Armenia. We are trying to get used to the lifestyle, familiarize with the market as well as expand our business. We have our permanent customers, as people are getting familiarized and the make sure of the quality of our product,” Raffi Rshtuni said.

Lena Shamlyan, who is engaged with needlework, said she felt comfortable in the homeland and does her job with pleasure.

“We had a family business in Aleppo, a wedding shop - that was shut down due to the war. We are asked all the time whether we plan to return to Aleppo, and I always give positive response. My house was there, and naturally I want to go and see it, yet I will return to live in Armenia since we got used to the life here and are connected with the homeland through many ties,” she said.

Vache Anajoghlyan who is architect by profession had arrived in Armenia in 2012 with a family. “The war started and we stayed here. We saw no possibility to return after a while, and made a decision to stay and start a business,” Anajoghlyan told Panorama.am, adding his daughters are studying at the Yerevan State University.

Vache Anajoghlyan is also specialized in food business “We noticed the local Armenians are fond of eastern food and decided to make different spices, sauces, semi-products. We have opened a store in Yerevan and continue our business,” Anajoghlyan said.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was among the guests who attended the exhibition-sale. In a short interview with reporters the minister revealed plans to do shopping in the exhibition - sale on the occasion of the Easter. Hakobyan then spoke of certain state-supported benefits to Syrian-Armenians, who are involved in entrepreneurship activity in the homeland.

The minister stressed that in the past 5 years the efforts of the president, the cabinet have been focused on integration of the Syrian-Armenians in the society, as evidence by the exhibition –sale, among other things.

“We are trying to speed up the economic integration and present programs the small and medium size business will benefit from. There is no sector where doors are not opened in front of the Syrian-Armenians. Our compatriots have decided to establish in Armenian. Temporal difficulties are to be solved step by step over the course of time,” Hakobyan said.