The current Middle East crisis will get deeper. There are more serious issues other than the war that “Hizballah” declared on Israel,” says doctor of politics Armen Ayvazyan, who teaches at the Management Academy of Armenia and the American University of Armenia.
“In reality, it’s all about making reforms in the Middle East based on the U.S.-Israel-West scenario, which is aimed towards controlling that oil-enriched land. It’s quite possible to see Syria get involved in the war and that automatically involves Iran, which may lead to a serious regional war. If not now, then that plan may become a reality later based on Iran’s nuclear weapons project. The strongest communities of the Armenian Diaspora in the Middle East are based in Syria, Lebanon and Iran,” says Mr. Ayvazyan.
“More and more people are making the trip to Armenia from Lebanon. In July, we received 108 people from Lebanon, of which 97 were citizens of Lebanon and 10 from Israel who had come to get the right to settle down in Armenia,” says deputy head of the refugee applicants’ department of the Migration agency Ruzanna Petrosyan.
Nearly 700 Armenians have come to Armenia after the start of military operations in Lebanon.
“I’m waiting for my parents. Although there are no bombings in the most centralized Armenian community in Burjhamut, Lebanon, however people can still hear the bombings and are scared. It’s ten minutes from Beirut to Burjhamut,” says Khachik Shaghoyan. He was born and raised in Lebanon, but has been living in Armenia for the past two years.
“It’s easier to make money in Lebanon, but there are more expenses to take care of. Prices for produce and other goods are expensive. It’s easier to live in Armenia.”
Khachik Shaghoyan has founded a coffee-producing factory and takes care of his wife and son.
During the past three years, there is a flow of Iraqi-Armenians to Armenia. Based on the statistics of the Migration agency, there are 390 Iraqi-Armenian families currently living in Armenia.
“Of course, there are people who have left. But many had private stores, their own homes, cars. They purchased homes here with the money from Iraq. So, they don’t want to leave,” says Mrs. Petrosyan.
The emigration from the Middle East to America, Europe, Australia and other countries started a long time ago.
“I must say that there is no future for Armenians living there. On the one hand, you have the unstable condition, which leads to an economic crisis. The bombings in Lebanon have demolished the country so much that it will take years for it to get back on its feet and develop economically. Besides that, it is quite possible to see the restart of a civil war both in Lebanon and even Iraq. The Muslim fundamentals are also going to cause communal problems for Armenians. Finally, those countries stay behind world developments and we Armenians like to live in developed countries,” says Mr. Ayvazyan, who recently visited Syria.
“I have six children; I sent three of my kids from Iraq to Germany and moved to Armenia with my wife and three children. Well, this is our homeland. You know, there’s nothing better than your homeland, but there is one thing missing: jobs. The Armenian government doesn’t help the immigrants. I left my home and land in Iraq. I want to go back and sell that so I can take care of my family here,” says Gevorg Urbanyan.
Today, Gevorg Urbanyan and his family live in a semi-basement of a building in the outskirts of the city. Urbanayan took out his documents and showed them as proof.
“I have worked with various European brand name companies. I’m an English translator by profession. I was making so much money that I was taking care of my relatives too. We were living the good life back in Iraq.”
“They come here, but the government doesn’t know what to offer. Take Israel, for example. There have to be programs, starting from language instruction all the way to taxing privileges. They have to bring those Armenians here as much as they can, save them from assimilation, and take Armenia out of the current demographic crisis, “says Mr. Ayvazyan.
Whereas there were 80,000 children born in Armenia back in the early 90’s, that number went down twice in 2002 and reached 32,000. The emigration from Armenia continues at the same pace.
“We must understand that the strongest force is human potential. Armenia can’t survive in this region with its three million population. We can’t lose the Armenian Diaspora just like that. Unfortunately, neither the government nor the Armenian organizations in the Diaspora are doing anything to bring Armenians to Armenia. There are free areas to live in, not counting the liberated territories. Large countries have special ministries dealing with issues concerning the Armenian Diaspora, for example, China. Armenia is the only country that doesn’t have that ministry or at least a state committee. There is an Immigrants’ Communication Ministry, which has been implementing projects for many years now. Baku and Russia have formed their own committees.”
Today, thousands of immigrants live in Armenia. They are the people that immigrated ten years ago on their own. This means the start of a new repatriation, however it’s limited to individuals.
“Those people must be invited by the government. Immigration is also a capital investment. Israel got back on its feet thanks to immigration,” says Mr. Ayvazyan.