The Armenian Republic and Diaspora should share one single position

PanARMENIAN.Net - When in the territory of Western Armenia the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia (Armenian SSR) was established, Armenians began to return to their so-called conditional homeland. About 40.000 Armenians from different countries had managed to come to Soviet Armenia by 1936. A post-war Soviet myth said the matter concerned «repatriation of forcedly displaced Armenians». Under Stalin rule the subject of Armenian Genocide was prohibited, and those who mentioned it were instantly declared «enemies of the people» and were, at best, exiled to Siberia or to Altai. In fact, Armenian Diaspora existed in lots of countries and part of it sincerely believed in the new, fair structure of the post-war world. Moreover, part of the Diaspora was subjected to communist ideas, especially in relatively poor countries like Syria, Lebanon, Greece, and Bulgaria. However, people migrated from other countries too, such as Romania, France, Yugoslavia, as well as Iran, Iraq, and the USA…

It is not a secret that it was especially the communists that got many Armenians living abroad to return to their home country. It was not repatriation, however, since inside the borders of Armenian SSR never was Armenia the fatherland of her ancestors - emigrants from Western Armenia. The motivation for returning was the desire «to build the Soviet State». Firstly a separate district committee was formed for the new comers, many of whom joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). By the way the new special district committee was to be found in the Zeytun District of Yerevan, and the site is still called "Raykom" (meaning "district committee" in Russian).

About 100.000 people returned till 1948. In 1948 Stalin "advised" Malenkov to think if there were no American saboteurs among the repatriates… On the next day Malenkov informed Stalin about a bomb planted by Armenian repatriates on the motor ship «Pobeda» in the port of Batumi. Under this pretence repatriation of Armenians was completely ceased, and it resumed only after Stalin's death. Since 1953 in a few years another 30.000 people came back to their motherland.

The tradition of Armenians' returning to Transcaucasia was maintained for rather long in Soviet times too. For the whole Soviet period there were three main flows of repatriation: in 1921-1936 (42 thousand), in 1946 (the biggest flow - 90-100 thousand), and in 1962-1982 (32 thousand). The first post-war flow of immigrants came mostly from Lebanon and Syria, as well as from Iran and Greece-Cyprus. Of the whole flow of repatriates about 2/3 came from the above-mentioned countries. Rather considerable (several thousands from each country) was also the immigration from France, Egypt, Bulgaria, and Romania. The last flow (3/4) consisted of immigrants from Iran. The total number of Armenian repatriates of the Soviet period is estimated at about 180 thousand.

However, repatriates found it rather difficult to settle down in Soviet Armenia, and it was especially them or their children that looked forward to leaving the USSR. At the first opportunity, in 1956, initiated and increased the flow of Armenian emigration predominantly to the West - to France, USA, Australia, and Canada. The total number of Armenian emigrants in 1956-1989 is estimated to be 77 thousand. The overwhelming majority - about 80% - left for the USA.

For a long time the problems of Diaspora were not discussed in new and independent Armenia. The reasons for such silence are not quite clear, if we take into consideration the fact that Armenia managed to survive only with the help of its Diaspora. Diaspora renders assistance also to Nagorno Karabakh. All this is common knowledge but for some reason it is remembered only occasionally. However, things seem to be moving recently. We already have a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs that is to bring together the position of all Armenians in the world, which is rather hard in itself. The first step is already made: Minister of Diaspora Affairs Hranush Hakobian apologized to the Armenian-repatriates who in 1946-1948 were exiled to Altai and to Siberia.

In the words of RA Prime-Minister Tigran Sargsyan, "Together with her Diaspora Armenia is quite a different country, and we can't but take this into consideration in the 21st century. The world is changing rather speedily, and the country's authorities can't afford another mistake in the issue of repatriation. We must do our best to avoid another apology to the Armenian Diaspora."

It is rather unlikely that all Armenians should live in one country; it is neither realistic, nor is it necessary. Without a strong Diaspora it would be impossible to solve such Armenian problems as recognition of the Genocide or lobbying of laws, which enable Armenia to develop in a regional blockade. However, it should be observed that the voice of Armenian lobby can sound much louder and much more effective, if it expresses the viewpoint of the whole Armenian State, like it was in the case with Israel. Otherwise what we have now is RA and Diaspora acting by themselves, which in the present state of affairs is quite unacceptable.