Reflections on "Depat" Armenians

Nareg Seferian

I am a member of the Facebook group that the Repat Armenia Foundation maintains. I am, in fact, a fan of that organization, which provides assistance to Armenians who wish to move to the Homeland, whether in terms of technical or legal information, employment, or some guidance on housing. It’s the sort of function that one would have wished the state to perform, that one might have expected the Ministry of the Diaspora to take on, via Armenian embassies or otherwise. To be fair, we are talking about a big deal, highly resource-heavy in realization, and also ideologically and philosophically heavy in its own right.

Armenia's "Silent" National Security Threat

Houry Mayissian

 

As we make our plans and commit to new resolutions for 2013, at least for some of our compatriots in Armenia new plans will unfortunately mean immigrating to new countries. More than 20 years after independence, outward migration remains the “answer” to the poverty and socio-economic issues affecting many in Armenia today.

Bumping up Against History

Maria Titizian

 

Autumn in Yerevan this year has been gloriously warm and sunny. Just a few days ago we were sitting at an outdoor café enjoying a hot cup of coffee by Republic Square. I was trying to vacate my mind of everything going on in my life when I happened to glance over and see a big beautiful old tree a few meters away. I had probably walked passed this tree a hundred times but had never taken the time to notice it. I have a weakness for trees without getting too political about them. Many years ago when we were living in Canada there was this magnificent old tree in a vacant lot behind our house. My Italian neighbor and I had promised ourselves that if ever this tree was in danger of being cut down we would go and chain ourselves to it to prevent its destruction. We came home from work one day to see that it was gone and in its place was a large hole and a sign from the city informing us that a church was to be built there. We were naturally upset about it but there wasn’t much we could do, it was gone. In retrospect I now realize that back then I gave up too easily on those issues that meant something to me. Living in Armenia has changed me and I believe or rather hope that I would have, at the very least, sent a letter of protest, albeit late, to city officials if I knew then what I know now…never give up on something of value.

Winds of Change

Zareh Ouzounian

 

Many thought this could never happen.

Yet we all WANTED this to happen.

The winds of change are finally blowing in Armenia.

The pre-independence years and the initial following years saw an Armenian people energized by statehood, excited by independence, and full of hope for a better future. And a lot was achieved, including winning a war against all odds. Anyone who had the opportunity of visiting Armenia in those early days of independence will remember that despite very dire economic conditions, there was “something” in the air, there was energy, hope, and excitement.

Letter to the Armenian Nation

Anina Hovhannisian
Translated by Vartan Matiossian

Today we are walking towards destruction, something that even the school student may feel. Dozens of people leave our republic every day, and they do not just leave, but flee Armenia, while trying to annihilate everything that is left behind and may force them to return to their homeland. On the background, we see many luxurious cars, newly-built mansions, deluxe stores, and other phenomena that symbolize wealth, which may leave an impression of bounty and well-being to the foreigner. But when we study our economy, it becomes clear that most companies active in Armenia are centralized in the hands of a few people and it is irrelevant that their owners may be people with different names, who just play the role of figureheads.