ianyan Magazine
May 6 2011
Returning to Ararat: The Possibilities of Repatriation in Armenia
Armenia, Diaspora – By Liana Aghajanian on May 6, 2011 2:40 pm
Diasporans are always longing for their homeland. They write songs
about it, fantasize and romanticize, organize events around it and
hang paintings of Ararat in their cushy homes in Los Angeles, Boston
and Montreal. `Mer Hayrenik’ they sing. `Our Fatherland.’ Yet it seems
those in `Our Fatherland’ are doing whatever they can to quite
literally escape. Armenia is hemorrhaging citizens. More Armenians
live outside of the country than in. People are hoping to leave any
which way they can. In fact, as many as 60 residents a day apply to a
company that arranges permanent residency in Russia, according to this
recent Hetq article, Russia Baits the Hook: Armenians Leave for the
`Promised Land.’
For many, there is no future in Armenia. The motherland is best loved
from afar, they say.
For others however, the country holds plenty of possibilities, as a
segment in Fresno’s KSEE 24 News explored recently.
Armenia has seen spurts of repatriation since the 1920s, where
thousands began arriving from Iran, Turkey, Greece, France and Syria
and culturally impacted the city with the introduction of coffee to
open air summer cafes, according to an article published by AGBU,
`Realizing a Dream: Then and Now.’ But the first waves of emigration
hit soon after the Soviet Union collapsed, continuing through the
90s, where economic troubles, an energy crisis and the
Nagorno-Kharabagh conflict kept Armenia in dire straights. Scientists,
engineers and specialists also saw demand for their skills abroad and
survivors of the Spitak earthquake who received little help from their
government relocated, the article goes on to say, also highlighting
that the challenge of Armenians moving back in present day can be
daunting and discouraging, even with the creation of the Ministry of
Diaspora.
Well into its second year, the ministry has notably supported programs
encouraging participation of the Diaspora in Armenia’s life. Its
activities often seem to fall under cultural or foreign-affairs
objectives, however, and the long-range mission of the ministry
remains somewhat obscure. No state program on repatriation has been
created.
Lacking in export commodities, and bound by natural as well as
man-made impediments to successful commerce, Armenia’s hope to emerge
from struggle to self-sustenance is inexorably linked to its stalwart
resource – its Diaspora. A state strategy for Armenian repatriation,
then, would seem a natural priority, which is currently conspicuous by
its absence.
A dwindling population is alarming for officials, but would it change
if the mystery of actually living in and making it in Armenia could be
revealed, or at least be comprehensively examined? Making the decision
to move to the Caucasus, until now has kind of been like being taught
to swim by your uncle. You get thrown into the deep end, with no one
to depend on except yourself. It’s a sink or swim situation.
There have been websites here and there, as well as blogs who have
touched on tips, suggestions and experiences to help others thinking
of relocating, but much of the information seems incomplete and at
times scattered.
This is where you come in. If you have spent a considerable amount of
time living in the Republic of Armenia, we need your help. We’d like
to establish a database here at Ianyan exploring the ins and outs of
what it really means to live in Armenia and if it’s even a realistic
goal. This can range anywhere from a directory of easily to find
emergency information, a make-shift version of the business rating
website of Yelp to cultural observations as well as valuable
information from locals. This collection of information doesn’t intend
to convince people to move to the region, but help provide easily
accessed information that could help them make a decision, whether
that means the answer is `Yes, we can!’ or `Umm, I don’t think so.’
So send us some tips! Email us at [email protected], if you’re
on Facebook, leave a message on our wall. If you’re on Twitter, send
us a reply. What are some tips you can offer to those curious about
what it’s really like to live in Armenia? What are the difficulties,
the benefits and everything in between? We’re not sure where this
project will end, but it wouldn’t hurt to start somewhere with the
help of those who have some knowledge to offer.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2011/05/06/returning-to-ararat-the-possibilities-of-repatriation-in-armenia/