February 15, 17:14 UTC+3 YEREVAN
YEREVAN, February 15. /TASS/. Russia views Armenia's decision to dispatch a humanitarian mission to Syria in a positive light, Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, told reporters at a news conference in Yerevan on Friday.
"Russia will certainly appreciate Armenia’s participation in the humanitarian mission in Syria. This is good news. Armenia supported the Syrian people and its compatriots in Syria defying response from the West," said Kalashnikov who is paying a working visit to the Armenian capital.
A group of 83 specialists from the Armenian Defense Ministry arrived in Syria on February 8 to accomplish a humanitarian mission. The group comprises demining, safety and medical professionals. Russia provided assistance in their transportation to the country. On February 13, the US Embassy in Yerevan said it did not support Russian-Armenian cooperation on Syria.
Before the outbreak of hostilities in Syria, the country had a large Armenian diaspora, which, according to various estimates, included up to 100,000 people. According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, more than 22,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in the country by now. Armenia also sent four planes carrying humanitarian aid to Syria.
