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November 19 National Citizens’ Initiative Examines Armenian Emigration Yerevan—The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened today a working seminar on “Armenian Emigration: Causes, Effects, and Patterns.”
NCI coordinator Hrach Hakobyan made opening remarks to the capacity audience. “We consider today the problem of emigration in context of the system of administration. Do we have emigration and immigration policy? To what extent is the emigration deduced from the logic of ‘emigration policy’? How does emigration affect reorganization of the societal groups? How does it reflect on the public, cultural, family, and even political demeanor of Armenian society,” he queried. NCI councilmember Hranush Kharatian, head of the Center for Ethnological Research, delivered a keynote address on “The Economic and Socio-Psychological Causes and Effects of Emigration.” “The exodus from Armenia has a serious impact not only on changes in the country’s demographic composition, but also on its political processes. According to our surveys, the number and quality of emigrants comply with the interests of those shaping the republic’s political life,” she asserted.
Dr. Thomas Marchiniak, of Poland’s Institute of Sociology at Copernicus University spoke about “Armenians in Poland: The New Emigrants.” “In the beginning of the 90s many Armenians emigrated from their homeland for well-known reasons. Thousands of Armenians now live in Poland, most of whom, unfortunately, you meet at the marketplaces. If a few years ago they could earn enough money to afford a one-year trip back to the home country, now this is impossible,” he said. “Value System Changes in the Emigration Process” was presented by Gayane Shagoyan, resident ethnographer at the Center for Ethnological Research. “Emigration is the most vivid among value system changes in Armenian family and social life; it sharply alters the relationship between the genders within the family and society. As a result of emigration, the reciprocal influence of the diaspora’s Armenian communities upon the homeland is undergoing marked change,” she opined. Irina Davtian, head of the Armenian government’s Migration Policy Division at the Department for Migration and Refugees, treated “Armenia’s Emigration Policy.” She noted in particular: “In our country, job searches trigger economic migration, which is impossible to prevent in these circumstances, as the whole world is flooded with a cost-effective, if illegal labor force. Many of our compatriots seek to obtain refugee status. Acting separately, individual states cannot solve the migration issue. Interstate cooperation is imperative.” The formal deliberations were followed by questions, answers, and a lively exchange among Russian Consul Vladimir Khrulev; economist Edward Aghajanov; Armenian Helsinki Committee chairman Avetik Ishkhanian; “Dardz” journal editor and NCI councilmember Moushegh Lalayan; ACNIS’s diaspora analyst Hovsep Khurshudian; National Democratic Union representative Levon Hakobian; Armenia’s Jewish community chairwoman Rima Varzhapetian; and many others. The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public nonprofit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach. For further information, please call
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