ARMENIAN REFUGEES VAGABONDS IN FOREIGN LAND

[MosJan]

ARMENIAN REFUGEES VAGABONDS IN FOREIGN LAND

It is characteristic for Armenians to wonder all around the world and settle in foreign countries. And although they integrate into foreign societies, they do preserve their national identity, language, religion- in their turn making the culture and coloring of a certain country. This tendency of Armenia nation was conditioned by the fact of not having statehood for many centuries.

 

 

Nowadays the situation changed. Armenia gained independence, but people still didn’t acquire the idea of soil-motherland-statehood. Today also large numbers of Armenians leave for foreign countries. It is understandable that the republic is in heavy economic situation, and there are many other problems which may be dispiriting. But there is a simple truth: nothing is everlasting, good and bad times follow each other and the time is the most powerful means for this.

 

 

But how do our compatriots live in foreign countries, how do they earn their daily bread?

 

 

As it is known it is quite difficult to get residential permit and find a job in European developed countries. Our co-citizens, arriving in Europe apply to corresponding authorities for receiving a refugee status. Armenia for European countries is considered a country where no special cases of human rights violation is registered. That’s why most of the applicants are rejected. Concerning those Armenian citizens who left the country based on economic hardship, their applications are also turned down, because difficult economic situation is not enough ground for receiving asylum in Europe.

 

 

Before their applications are discussed our refugees stay in temporary campuses and emigration camps. Not having a work and living means, receiving tiny sums from social security offices, many of them seek other ways of earning money. Some of them even commit crimes- steal, rob. Then what is the sense of leaving Armenia and going to a foreign country? Becoming a criminal? Many normally provided families sell their apartments and go to Europe- hoping that dollars there grow on the trees. But soon they realize that they had made a mistake, but it is too late. There is no way back, because they sold their apartments, even have considerable debts in motherland. Believing the legends of easy life many people get deceived in this way- thus putting the future of their children under threat. They become nomad vagabonds – going from one country to another- all the time being in bad spiritual condition, well knowing that at any moment they can be exiled from the country. Policemen of one or another country can shout at them, insult them and even beat them. And of course children don’t get normal education when living this kind of life – changing living place all the time.

 

 

And the problem is that they realize their situation, but reconcile with it and live on like that- actually destroying their own lives and the lives of their children.

 

 

Maybe its better to stay in motherland and try to do that little that one can do for improving the situation here, and endure hard times - for good times are sure to come one day.

 

 

By Emma Haroutiunian

 

P.S. I don’t aim to judge people, I would only want that those who packed their suitcases and are going to depart to foggy uncertainty think it over once again.

 

© Copyright AZG

[Harut]

yes, it's really sad.

it's just awful.

 

i think no economical hardship can be a valid reason for leaving the country. not even politcal hardships are good enough reasons.

i think there are somethings else.

 

one thing can be that it is really in our blood, the nomadic characteristics: a little here, then there, here is good but let's try there....

i don't know, maybe.

 

one other thing can be that in the times of Soviets people took a lot of things for granted. there was a socialism, nobody was sturving, majority weren't working their butts off to live....so people got used to it.

 

and now, when they really have to work hard to get something, they give up.

i see a lot of times when people complain about the government they recall the old days. but they forget that they are only the old days, that in the new system nobody is equal(in economical terms). it's like they expect the government to do the most of the work for them, equally for everybody.

 

it's interesting to see people work here, in US, 12 hours a day and make only $2,000 a month, which is not even OK for living in US, but refuse or don't want to work that hard in Armenia.

 

i was watching TV last night. there was an interview with Tigran Levonyan, and he was asked about this issue.

 

he acctually said a few smart things.

he, being a "hayrenadarts" himself, was against all kinds of "artagakht".

 

he was saying that the situation was much worse in 1946, and economically and politically, but people were coming with a great joy. but now, when things are much better off, people leave.

he was saying it is, maybe, because back then there was a hope of "paytsar apaga" and powerful propaganda from USSR. but now those things are missing in Armenia.

 

what i think is that now people should not wait for the government to set a "paytsar apaga" for all people, like they used to do, but they should visualize their own "apaga"(they should decide how "paytsar" that would be) and work for it.