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Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR, UK
Caucasus Reporting, Issue 646
June 17 2012
Syrian Armenians Move to Yerevan
Security fears in Syria make Armenia look a sensible place to take refuge.
By Arpi Harutyunyan, Haykuhi Barseghyan - Caucasus
Several hundred people have already arrived in Armenia to escape
rising violence in Syria, and they say thousands more could be on
their way.
`We never thought we'd be able to move from one country to another in
just a few months,' said Harutyun Ashakertyan, 58, who has moved to
Armenia with his wife and three children. `The situation changed so
sharply that it was the best decision. Our prime duty was to ensure
the family's safety.'
His wife Lisa Ashakertyan, 50, said most of the people she knew back
in Syria were planning to move to Armenia, as well.
Syria is home to around 80,000 Armenians, most descendants of the
survivors of mass killings in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 onwards.
Although they are well integrated in Syria, the violence of the last
year has forced many to consider leaving.
The influx is likely to increase as President Bashar al-Assad's forces
continue attacking towns around the country, and as his armed
opponents put up more resistance. Concentrated in in Aleppo, the
Armenian minority is seen as supportive of the Assad government.
Emigrating is difficult when there are few buyers for homes and businesses.
Madlen Sepetjyan, 59, is keen to leave Syria, but is unable to sell her house.
`A few months ago my house was robbed. Every last coin was taken, and
it's just lucky I wasn't at home or they would have killed me,' she
said. `They took all my savings and my gold, and I can't go to Armenia
until I sell my house. We wait for buyers all the time, but no one is
coming forward at this tense time.'
Sepetjyan worries how she will support herself in Armenia, since her
son has lived there for three years but has yet to find a long-term
job that pays decent money.
It is not clear how many of the arriving Syrian Armenians have found work.
According to member of parliament Artsvik Minasyan, they will need
help integrating, not least because they speak a different dialect of
Armenian.
`The problem is that there is no single strategy for arriving
Armenians who need help from the state - from assistance with
economic, social and financial issues, to organisational and
citizenship questions,' he said.
In response to an opposition question this February, Armenia's prime
minister Tigran Sargsyan said the government would be prepared to help
the Armenian community in Syria.
Tevos Nersisyan, of the diaspora ministry, said no resettlement plans
had been drawn up, and was still not anticipating a massive influx
from Syria.
`It's impossible to predict how many people will move to Armenia,' he
said. He confirmed that Syrian Armenians were constantly contact with
his ministry, however, over visas, financial matters and help getting
their property through customs.
Analysts say the new arrivals should not put too much strain on the
system, especially considering the number of people who have left
Armenia in search of work in recent years.
`So many people have left Armenia in recent years that a big influx
now wouldn't cause any economic problems. The reverse is true - the
arrival of compatriots will give us new stimulus,' Andranik Tevanyan,
director of the Politeconomia think tank, said.
Arpi Harutyuyan is a correspondent for Armnews television. Haykuhi
Barseghyan is a correspondent for the Ankakh weekly and www.Ankakh.am.
http://iwpr.net/report-news/syrian-armenians-move-yerevan
From: Baghdasarian
Caucasus Reporting, Issue 646
June 17 2012
Syrian Armenians Move to Yerevan
Security fears in Syria make Armenia look a sensible place to take refuge.
By Arpi Harutyunyan, Haykuhi Barseghyan - Caucasus
Several hundred people have already arrived in Armenia to escape
rising violence in Syria, and they say thousands more could be on
their way.
`We never thought we'd be able to move from one country to another in
just a few months,' said Harutyun Ashakertyan, 58, who has moved to
Armenia with his wife and three children. `The situation changed so
sharply that it was the best decision. Our prime duty was to ensure
the family's safety.'
His wife Lisa Ashakertyan, 50, said most of the people she knew back
in Syria were planning to move to Armenia, as well.
Syria is home to around 80,000 Armenians, most descendants of the
survivors of mass killings in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 onwards.
Although they are well integrated in Syria, the violence of the last
year has forced many to consider leaving.
The influx is likely to increase as President Bashar al-Assad's forces
continue attacking towns around the country, and as his armed
opponents put up more resistance. Concentrated in in Aleppo, the
Armenian minority is seen as supportive of the Assad government.
Emigrating is difficult when there are few buyers for homes and businesses.
Madlen Sepetjyan, 59, is keen to leave Syria, but is unable to sell her house.
`A few months ago my house was robbed. Every last coin was taken, and
it's just lucky I wasn't at home or they would have killed me,' she
said. `They took all my savings and my gold, and I can't go to Armenia
until I sell my house. We wait for buyers all the time, but no one is
coming forward at this tense time.'
Sepetjyan worries how she will support herself in Armenia, since her
son has lived there for three years but has yet to find a long-term
job that pays decent money.
It is not clear how many of the arriving Syrian Armenians have found work.
According to member of parliament Artsvik Minasyan, they will need
help integrating, not least because they speak a different dialect of
Armenian.
`The problem is that there is no single strategy for arriving
Armenians who need help from the state - from assistance with
economic, social and financial issues, to organisational and
citizenship questions,' he said.
In response to an opposition question this February, Armenia's prime
minister Tigran Sargsyan said the government would be prepared to help
the Armenian community in Syria.
Tevos Nersisyan, of the diaspora ministry, said no resettlement plans
had been drawn up, and was still not anticipating a massive influx
from Syria.
`It's impossible to predict how many people will move to Armenia,' he
said. He confirmed that Syrian Armenians were constantly contact with
his ministry, however, over visas, financial matters and help getting
their property through customs.
Analysts say the new arrivals should not put too much strain on the
system, especially considering the number of people who have left
Armenia in search of work in recent years.
`So many people have left Armenia in recent years that a big influx
now wouldn't cause any economic problems. The reverse is true - the
arrival of compatriots will give us new stimulus,' Andranik Tevanyan,
director of the Politeconomia think tank, said.
Arpi Harutyuyan is a correspondent for Armnews television. Haykuhi
Barseghyan is a correspondent for the Ankakh weekly and www.Ankakh.am.
http://iwpr.net/report-news/syrian-armenians-move-yerevan
From: Baghdasarian