YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush Hakobian received a delegation of the Armenian-Syrian Business Council on September 9. The delegation composed of the Council's representatives Shahe Yaghubian and Suren Vardanian was headed by Co-Chairman of the Council's Syrian side, member of Aleppo Chamber of Commerce Levon Zaki Yetalian, Press and PR Department of the Ministry of Diaspora reported. The minister said that the Syrian-Armenian community is one of the most well-organized ones. In her opinion, the visit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Armenia in June 2009 marked a new path in the development of relations between Armenia and syria. She reminded that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had stated during the indicated visit that the bilateral relations have great opportunities for further development, especially in the field of business and he had highlited the importance of ensuring the continuity of the program on exhibitions of Armenian and Syrian goods. Ms. Hakobian urged the Armenian-Syrian busnessmen to step up their activities in Armenia, to which work to be done in Diaspora communities under the memorandum signed between the Ministry and the RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry will contribute. A meeting of Diaspora Armenian businessmen making investments in Armenia is scheduled to take place in Yerevan in late November 2009. The minister spoke about the field of partners of the Ministry of Diaspora and the problems of specifying the needs of the communities, whose solution will enable to increase the efficiency of the Ministry's assistance to the communities. L. Z. Yetalian presented the Armenian-Syrian Business Council's goals such as the development of business links between the two countries, the promotion of exports and imports. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that the interest in business potential of the Diaspora is growing in Armenia. During the meeting Minister Hakobian and the Armenian-Syrian businessmen also addressed problems of the business climate's improvement in Armenia. Ms. Hakobian presented the draft guide on the legislative problems related to the stay and business activity of Diaspora Armenians in Armenia.

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