Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan Meets with Syria’s Foreign Minister
On January 27, in Damascus, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan held a meeting with Assad al-Shaybani, the Foreign Minister of the newly formed government of the Syrian Arab Republic. The two sides discussed potential areas of cooperation, emphasizing the importance of partnership in various sectors.
The Deputy Foreign Minister reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to support humanitarian programs, reforms, and other priority initiatives in Syria. The interlocutors exchanged views on regional developments, underscoring the importance of normalizing relations with neighboring countries.
Armenians have a historic presence in Syria. Before 2011, approximately 100,000 Armenians lived in Syria, but this number has significantly decreased in recent years. As of December 2024, the Armenian population in Aleppo is estimated at 10,000–12,000.
Diplomatic relations between Syria and Armenia were established in 1992. Over the past decade, this is only the second visit to the Syrian Arab Republic. The most recent visit occurred in 2023 when Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan traveled to Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to citizens affected by the devastating earthquake near the Turkish-Syrian border.
According to data from the State Revenue Committee, Armenia primarily imports vegetables, seeds, pharmaceuticals, bags, suitcases, household goods, and equipment from Syria.
In turn, Armenia exports alcoholic beverages, tobacco, equipment, and furnaces to Syria.