The Minister and the Ambassador Discussed Issues Related to Armenian-Syrian Educational Relations
2018-08-13
Arayik Harutyunyan, the RA Minister of Education and Science, hosted Mohammad Haj Ibrahim, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Republic of Armenia.
Welcoming the guest, Arayik Harutyunyan mentioned that there is a productive experience of Armenian-Syrian relations in the field of education and science. Arayik Harutyunyan expressed hope that all the programs that have been left unfinished, as a result of the recent events in Syria, will be completely resumed and augmented and said, "I have studied in Damascus and strengthened my knowledge of Arabic. The hospitality that I have experienced there has been a guideline for my whole life.” The Minister emphasized that hundreds of Syrian-Armenian youths receive their education in Armenia and the augmentation of the bilateral relations is a matter of agenda.
The Ambassador Mohammad Haj Ibrahim, in his turn, thanked Minister Harutyunyan for the reception and stressed that the effectiveness of educational cooperation is the basis for the development of relations in other areas. Referring to bilateral programs, the Ambassador mentioned that the situation in Syria is stabilizing and conditions favorable for educational programs are being created.
At the meeting, both parties also touched upon the subject of joint cooperation in higher education for 2018-2021, between the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Higher Education of the Syrian Arab Republic, which is under discussion. The Minister and the Ambassador expressed hope that when the project is approved, a better quality of higher education and science will be created for scholarship opportunities bilaterally. In this context, Ambassador Mohammad Haj Ibrahim mentioned that youths of Syria are interested in education abroad. According to him, Armenia is attractive in this sense, as it is favorable in terms of security and educational environment. The Syrian side is interested in Medical and Information Technology education, as well as in Intercultural and Language instruction.
During the meeting, other issues were also discussed.
