Children displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ask Santa Claus for toys, stationery, smartphones and, of course, peace. Not only children, but also adults dream about it, as peace has been the most cherished dream for several decades now because of Azerbaijan.
The Artsakh Operational Headquarters in Yerevan on Thursday hosted a New Year festivity featuring students of the Hadrut Children and Youth Creative Center. The event brought together 100 children. On December 15 and 17, a New Year celebration will be organized for 200 more children.
Ira Tamrazyan, head of the Hadrut Children and Youth Creative Center, told Panorama.am that before their forced exile from Artsakh triggered by Azerbaijan’s attack in mid-September, their sponsor, Canadian-Armenian Ardem Tutunjian, had offered to organize a celebration for 100 children on the eve of the New Year.
"But now we are all in Armenia. Our friend Ardem decided to organize an event for 300 children instead of 100," Tamrazyan said.
For children aged 1 to 12 today was really a holiday: a clown, games, Santa Claus… What else do children need to have fun?
Father Mesrop Mkrtchyan, a clergyman of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, noted in his turn that they had suffered many ordeals, sometimes losing hope.
"But today, at this hall, we can rejoice together with our children at the coming of the New Year. Our children should not experience distress, they are no different from children living in other parts of the world. They may even be more charming and beautiful. Our children have greater love for life, for the homeland," he said.