By Harut Sassounian,
On the top of all the other disputes among Armenians, a new controversy was added last week by Zareh Sinanyan, the Armenian Republic’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.
A few days before Sinanyan’s visit to Lebanon over the weekend, accompanying a plane-load of humanitarian aid from Armenia, he spoke on a teleconference with a group of Armenian officials and others and made some unexpected statements. Here are excerpts from Sinanyan’s statement:
“…We should create such a reality in Armenia that not in the distant future we can think about not only the repatriation of Armenians, but also making Armenia the homeland of, how do I say this, for nationalities like us. I am talking about Christian Arabs, Assyrians, those nationalities that do not represent a national security danger to Armenia and can be easily integrated in Armenia. Because in such an intelligent, thoughtful and civilized manner, we can change the demographic situation in Armenia. We should not be embarrassed by that. That is a correct step. That will be a success. Imagine that we can make Armenia a country that is attractive also to non-Armenians….”
Sinanyan’s above statement created a major controversy in Armenian circles worldwide. The vast majority of Armenian comments on Facebook pages were highly critical, turning this issue, like many others, into a partisan political dispute.
I also watched another one of Sinanyan’s interviews with the Civilnet website prior to his visit to Lebanon. In that interview, Sinanyan again spoke about Christian Arabs, Assyrians and other nationalities immigrating to Armenia. However, this time, Sinanyan stated that the idea came from Shahan Kandaharian, the edtor of Aztag newspaper in Lebanon, the official organ of the local Armenian Revolutionary Party (ARF). Sinanyan implied that the ARF supported this idea, repeating twice that Kandaharian is an ARF member. In fact, the ARF leaders have publicly announced that they prefer Lebanese Armenians not abandon the well-established community of that country. Naturally, no one can constrain any Lebanese Armenian from immigrating to Armenia, which is much more preferable than immigrating to other foreign lands. Kandaharian’s words were somewhat misconstrued by Sinanyan. In the video, Kandaharian was speaking about the immigration to Armenia of Lebanese who had Armenian roots, not Christian Arabs nor Assyrians. Sinanyan also alleged that those who criticized him on Facebook are ARF members and an “army of fakes.” While there may be a few fakes, but it is clear that the overwhelming majority of the critics are Armenians who do not wish non-Armenians to immigrate to Armenia.
Nevertheless, there are several important issues that need to be raised:
First of all, the immigration of non-Armenians to Armenia is a very sensitive issue for most Armenians with serious national consequences which go far beyond Sinanyan’s authority and responsibilities. The genocide of 1915 which decimated 1.5 million Armenians makes all Armenians extra protective of the remnants of their people and the diminished homeland.
Furthermore, while Sinanyan is responsible for implementing the Armenian government’s policy of repatriating Diaspora Armenians, the immigration of non-Armenians to Armenia has nothing to do with the office of the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs.
The immigration of non-Armenians is a matter of governmental policy. Since independence, there has been a small number of non-Armenians who have settled in Armenia as businessmen or family members of Armenian citizens. There have been also some refugees who have asked for asylum in Armenia. Anyway, it is doubtful that a large number of non-Armenians would be interested in moving permanently to Armenia in the near future.
To be clear, we are not talking about the various minority nationalities that live in Armenia, such as Yezidis, Assyrians, Greeks and Russians. These minorities have been residing in Armenia for centuries. There is no question about their continued residence in Armenia.
In terms of changing the demographics of Armenia and increasing its population, the first thing the Armenian government has to do is to establish policies that would discourage the native population of Armenia from leaving the homeland. This would mean creating jobs and providing housing. After that, the Armenian government should try to attract Diaspora Armenians, particularly those in the near abroad, such as the recent emigrants to Russia, to return to Armenia. To do that, Armenia needs to facilitate their move to Armenia by having a simple procedure for their resettlement, and providing them housing and employment. Otherwise, the Russian Armenians either will not return to Armenia or will turn around and go back after a short stay. This is exactly what happened to Syrian-Armenians who moved to Armenia, fleeing from the civil war in Syria. Many of them left for Western Europe, Canada or the United States due to lack of jobs and housing in Armenia.
The priority right now for Sinanyan’s office is to attract Armenians from the Diaspora to move to Armenia. If by a miracle, a large number of Diaspora Armenians resettle in Armenia, only then the Armenian government can raise the issue of allowing a large number of other nationalities to immigrate to Armenia. There needs to be a major national consensus for allowing a large number of non-Armenians moving to Armenia. This is not a one man’s or one group’s decision.
Harut Sassounian says
Len,
I agree with most of your comments. Regrettably, you have misconstrued some of my points. I already said that some non-Armenian family members of Armenians have already immigrated to Armenia. This is your case. We welcome you in Armenia whole-heartedly. Your reference to the genocide is wrong. I was only referring to Armenian sensitivity about the diminished Armenian population and territory. As I also said, the immigration of non-Armenians to Armenia is not the responsibility of the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. That has to do with governmental policy on immigration. You can contact me anytime. You are welcome in Armenia as an Armenian Pesa. I commend your move to Armenia!
Len Wicks says
Dear Harut
My wife Armine and I are most grateful for your kind clarification. We were also very happy to hear about your support for our family’s move to Armenia, and the investment we’ll make to strengthen the rural heartland.
We do understand your point about the scope of the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. However in our case, we believe that the Commissioner does have a role in terms of him speaking for my wife’s repatriation as a member of the diaspora. Therefore, we appreciate the Commissioner’s welcoming comments in regards to the repatriation of mixed marriages (i.e.: Armenians and non-Armenians), but we’ll leave it to the government and diaspora to discuss policies for other circumstances.
We’ll be very happy to discuss projects with you to help the people recover after this difficult time in Areni, Vayots Dzor once we move there next year. We’re building a lodge there (https://arenilodge.com/), so can offer some Areni Noir wine from our land to help facilitate the discussion :-).
We’d be especially pleased to welcome you to the site of our planned Open Air Cultural Museum next to the lodge. In terms of safeguarding and protecting Armenia’s precious cultural heritage, we’re sure that this project will be of interest to you and the wider diaspora. Anyway Wally can pass my direct contact to you if you’re happy to be in contact. Happy to be an ‘Armenian Pesa’ (or ABC as my friends in government call me… Armenian By Choice).
Len Wicks
Len Wicks says
Dear Mr. Harut Sassounian
Perhaps you have the best interests of Armenia in mind when discussing the comments about non-Armenian immigration by Zareh Sinanyan, Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, but some of your statements cannot go unchallenged.
Firstly, full disclosure. I’m a non-Armenian Australian/New Zealander married to an Armenian citizen, and we intend to emigrate from Australia next year to Vayots Dzor province. In doing so, we’ll be making a considerable investment to fund a new business, museum and many other projects that will create jobs and build pride in Armenia’s culture and history. So obviously your response to Commissioner Sinanyan’s statement attracted our interest.
We respectfully disagree with your thinking that the government should `provide houses and jobs’ for new immigrants (other than genuine refugees). This is wishful thinking. It isn’t the government’s core role to fund housing and jobs for immigrants, and nor does the government have the money to do that, as you know. The government needs to focus on providing basic services such as better schools, hospitals and road infrastructure, but is unable to create many new jobs like private entrepreneurs can – unless someone believes that we have to return to the days of Communism!
On the one hand you acknowledge that `it is doubtful that a large number of non-Armenians would be interested in moving permanently to Armenia in the near future.’ True. But then at the end of your response you’re potentially inciting people’s fears by suggesting twice that there will be a ‘large number of other nationalities that immigrate to Armenia’. Perhaps you don’t mean to do this, but that’s the impression.
It seems to me that with a homogeneous population consisting of 98.1% Armenians, Armenia as a nation would greatly benefit from having a few people from other backgrounds who can improve the diversity and richness of different ideas that this brings. Please note that I said `a few’. For me the most irksome part of your statement is the way you’ve intimated that there’ll be some sort of new genocide if non-Armenians like me come to settle there.
While I agree that all Armenians should be `extra protective of the remnants of their people and the diminished homeland’, there is no excuse for such fear-mongering. I’ll be doing my best to integrate. Perhaps with your kind assistance, many of my projects that support the poorest Armenians in the villages will be realized, and I also hope to bring some new ideas to benefit the nation. But that should never be misunderstood as diminishing Armenia, yet in my view the infighting, negativity and false gossip between Armenians over centuries has certainly diminished Armenia.
I look forward to working with you to strengthen Armenia in a positive manner in the future. Can we discuss a more appropriate way of messaging on this subject for Armenia’s benefit?
Regards
Len Wicks
Varouj says
Well said Len !
I would bet that nearly 50% of Armenians in the diaspora are married to Odars :).
We are indirectly dismissing them with this needlessly fearful reaction to a non issue.
Len Wicks says
Thanks very much Varouj jan. Armenia needs to welcome everyone’s talent and new thinking if they genuinely support Armenia. I’m convinced that one day the nation will proudly stand independently on its own feet with such an approach, and there should be no fear of outsiders watering down your unique cultural heritage. I intend to build an Open Air Cultural Museum in Areni to prove it! I welcome all diaspora to join me in this quest. Watch this space :-): https://originsdiscovery.com/