The reunion is organized by the Youth Foundation of Armenia.

The Syrian-Armenian children were introduced to Armenian youth, participated in several contests and gave a concert.
Syrian-Armenian Ara Noyemian, 17, is from Damascus and is visiting Armenia for the first time. Ara says he hasn’t seen so many Armenian youth from different corners of the globe together and is very interested in getting acquainted with his fellow youth in Armenia. He mentions that the situation in Syria is not as tense as foreign presses present it and that it is safer in Armenia. Ara adds that he will return to Syria after spending his 15-day summer vacation in Armenia.

Hagop Garabed, 13, spends his summer vacation in Armenia every year. He and his fellow Syrian-Armenians learn Armenian songs and dances and study Armenian history. Hagop voiced hope that he would participate in the “Baze” Pan-Armenian Youth Reunion as part of the Diaspora Armenian team when he is older.

Head of the group of Syrian-Armenian children Berj Der-Sarkisian mentions that the situation in Syria didn’t let the children spend their summer vacation there, and by visiting Armenia through the efforts of the Armenian authorities, on the one hand they forget about the difficulties in Syria and enjoy the peaceful environment, and on the other hand they get acquainted with their homeland.

Berj Der-Sarkisian informed that most of the children were visiting Armenia for the first time and the people’s generosity and Mount Ararat had left the greatest impression on them. “These children have drawn Mount Ararat on paper since childhood. It has a great symbol for them and it was very impressive when they saw the two mountains (Masis and Sis) in the panorama of Yerevan.”

Bidding each other farewell in the evening, the participants of the “Baze” Pan-Armenian Youth Reunion and the Syrian-Armenian children expressed confidence that they would become great friends in the future.

Public Relations Service of the Youth Foundation of Armenia