Group to be sent to Syria subordinated to Armenia’s ministry only – Deputy DM

Armenia will send humanitarian specialists to Syria, Armenia’s deputy defense minister Gabriel Balayan said in an interview to RFE/RL.

“Among them will be doctors, engineers, sappers who will mainly help Aleppo residents,” he said.

Gabriel Balayan noted that besides humanitarian assistance Armenia periodically sends to Syria, specialists will also be sent to be useful to the local people. He said they will mainly help the Armenian community in Aleppo.

The deputy minister said the group is exclusively Armenia’s assistance within the framework of UN Security Council resolution adopted in 2015. He also stressed that the group is subordinated only to Armenia’s corresponding ministry.

“We do not exclude cooperation with Russia but will act only under Armenia’s flag,” the deputy minister said.