THEY LOSE THEIR LAST HOPE FOR FREEDOM

[12:32 pm] 07 September, 2006

Thousands of Iraqi Armenians are looking for shelters in different corners of the world. The war has deprived their last hope for security and freedom.
Petros Aghababyan, head of the migration department dealing with the issues of refugees, claims that the migration department has no notion of the total sum of the Iraqi Armenians who have settled in Armenia recently. In his words this is determined by the fact that the number of refugees asking for shelters has increased in recent years.
Petros Aghababyan maintains that the state doesn’t help refugees with housing, work and other issues; it only gives them a legal permission to live in the republic for one year. Part of the refugees stay with their relatives and acquaintances whereas others live in rented houses.
Sevan Ohanesyan, who formerly lived in Iraq, says that they led a normal life in Iraq before the war broke down. He had his own business in Iraq; he owned a photo shop and now he left it with his family. Only Sevan Ohanesyan could settle in Armenia; the other members of his family are still in Iraq as they have got certain problems connected with passports. “We had to be at home after 7:30p.m. in postwar period as we were not allowed to walk in the streets. It was a military order. Besides, there was obvious pursuit of Christians; they destroyed churches, etc.”
Sevan Ohanesyan says he doesn’t see any future in Iraq. He is going to find a job in Armenia and to settle in the country finally with his family.
Araz, another refugee from Iraq, moved to Armenia two years ago and has already managed to get adjusted to new conditions; he got a temporary passport and married an Armenian girl. He is not going to return to Iraq. He says he is displeased with their treatment towards Armenians. The members of his family are still in Iraq as they cannot sell their property.
By the way, the Iraqi Armenians keep in touch with each other. The place of their meeting is Republic Square.

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