Today, in the interview with the journalist at the National Assembly, Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, in response to the emigration of Syrian-Armenians, said, “Let our people get to the place safe and sound. It is not one way and one direction. Why do you think that we do not busy with it every day and every hour, and the situation of these people is not painful to us? Be sure please, we are all Armenian people. How can you sit quietly when the Armenians are killed there? Steps are being taken, and there are things that we cannot voice them.”
To the curiosity of the journalists that Aram Manukyan was saying that there are few investments made in Armenia, and the transfers are reduced, after your call when you said to bring 1,000 dollars, so how much money they have sent, Hranush Hakobyan replied, “I do not go to the banks every day, it’s not my task. My task is to convey some information from Armenia to Diaspora. My task is to notify the Diaspora that the bank deposits in Armenia make 6-18 percent. If you invest, you derive a benefit from it. Thereby, Armenia’s economy benefits too. Hence, my offer and question is very appropriate. You need to read the foreign press that contains their responses. A few days ago, I received the delegation of the “Hayastan” Fund, the representative of Canada stood up and suggested us to go and open accounts in the banks. Everyone hailed saying, yes, we need to go and open.”
To the journalists’ clarification question of whether they are talking about 1000 dollars, the minister replied, “I conventionally said 1000. A few days ago, I received a letter from Canada, a man was writing, I am going to bring all my 3 daughters to Armenia, and will open not 1000, but 3000 dollars account for each of my daughters. What a political issue you have made out of it? … I appeal to the Diaspora in different ways every day. If there was no trust in Diaspora, our programs would not be expanded.” Hranush Hakobyan said that the percentage of deposits in the US banks amounts to 0-2%, every smart man, on hearing 6-18 per cent, wants to derive a benefit.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
