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ISTANBUL; Syria's Armenians Escape From Conflict To Armenia

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  • ISTANBUL; Syria's Armenians Escape From Conflict To Armenia

    SYRIA'S ARMENIANS ESCAPE FROM CONFLICT TO ARMENIA
    by Vercihan Ziflioglu

    Hurriyet
    July 18 2012
    Turkey

    Many Syrian Armenians flee from conflict to Armenia, where locals
    and the government are trying their best to host them despite recent
    economic difficulties

    Syrians are seen at a camp near the border. Turkey is hosting over
    42,000 Syrians. Armenians fleeing from Syria refrain from coming to
    Turkey or Lebanon, says lawyer.

    The longstanding conflict in Syria has affected the country's Christian
    population causing many Armenians to flee violence in the country
    and a group to be formed in Armenia to protect migrants arriving there.

    Armenians fleeing Syria often migrate to Armenia first but later head
    to another country due to a lack of job opportunities in the country,
    according to locals. An initiative has been started in Armenia to
    assist Armenians emigrating from Syria. It is not known how many
    people fall into this category as no official statement on the issue
    has been released.

    An office has been established to house the Armenian initiative,
    which includes lawyers who guide emigrants through various legal
    procedures and help to protect their rights. Lawyer Lyudvig Tavtyan is
    one of the founders of the group "Cross-border Protection of Migrants'
    Human Rights," which was established by Armenia's Forensic Experts
    and Jurists Association. The group has negotiated with Armenia's
    Diaspora Minister HranuyÅ~_ Hagopyan, and informed him about the new
    initiative and its work, Tavtyan told the Hurriyet Daily News.

    "We have limited opportunities, so we have asked the minister to
    announce the formation of the initiative and to give support to
    emigrants," Tavtyan said. He underlined that migration from Syria to
    Armenia has recently increased, but that the number of emigrants is
    not clear yet as the Armenian Foreign Ministry has not released an
    official number. According to information from migrants coming from
    Syria, hundreds of Syrian Armenians have come to Armenia within the
    last three months, however, it is difficult to estimate a precise
    number, Tavtyan said.

    Some of the emigrants have come to live with relatives in Armenia,
    while some are supported by the Armenian Red Cross, Tavtyan said. It
    is also difficult to determine how many of the incoming migrants from
    Syria plan to settle in the country long-term. "It is very hard to
    give a clear answer, because some of the Syrians coming to Armenia
    plan to return to Syria after the conflict, while others plan to
    migrate to another country. Consequently, giving a precise answer is
    very difficult," Tavtyan said.

    Turkey and Lebanon are also hosting many Syrian refugees fleeing
    violence, but Armenians do not come to Turkey as it denies that events
    in 1915 constituted a "genocide." Many Armenians migrated to Syria
    in 1915, Tavtyan said, adding that Armenians also do not migrate to
    Lebanon as they wish to leave the Middle East because of the many
    ongoing conflicts occurring there. Armenians generally prefer to
    migrate to countries where they have relatives and wish to come to
    Europe of the United States, Tavtyan said.

    Armenia is not prepared to welcome a large-scale migration due to
    effects of global economic crisis currently being felt in the country,
    Tavtyan said. However, the Armenian government is doing its best to
    support immigrants from Syria and individuals have also opened their
    homes to Syrian Armenians, he said.

    Before the migration began, the number of Armenians in Syria was
    estimated to be about 100,000. A great majority of Syrian Armenians
    are concerned about the collapse of the current regime in Syria due
    to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's moderate policies toward the
    Christian population. They are also concerned that they will not be
    able to return to their country.

    Many people must now reach Armenia via land transportation, because
    there are no vacant seats available on Armenian Airlines flights until
    September. Tickets on these flights cost $650, which is difficult
    for many families to afford, Tavtyan said.


    From: Baghdasarian
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