November 16, 2004 - 21:40 AMT
ARMENIANS IN ESTONIA MAINLY REPRESENT INTELLIGENTSIA
In the words of Estonian President Arnold Ruutel, some 2 thousand Armenians reside in Estonia. A few years ago an Armenian church was opened in Tallinn. According to the data we possess, the number of Armenians is Estonia is larger and along with those, who migrated to Estonia, they may number 3 thousand. Besides Tallin, Armenians also live in Kohtla Jarve, Kivili and other towns of the country. Besides the church in Tallinn, since this September a Sunday Armenian School is opened, where Armenian is taught to those wishing to learn the language. Armenians in Estonia mainly represent intelligentsia. One of the problems the community has is difficulty of maintaining ties with the historical Fatherland. Specifically, a few Armenian students in Estonia, who wish to continue their education in Armenia, experience difficulties with transfer from Estonian higher education institutions to Armenian ones due to the absence of mutual normative acts.