Interview by Kevork Chichyan
Over the years, Armenian youth living outside of Armenia realize that they need to settle in their homeland and inspire their peers around the world with their example. One of those young Armenians is Anahit Khalatyan.
Anahit moved from Moscow to Armenia three months ago. She says one of the reasons for her move was that she was no longer able to live far away from Armenia.
Hayern Aysor: Anahit, what is the story behind your move to Armenia?
Anahit Khalatyan: First of all, my family and I had moved to Moscow in the 1990s. After living in Moscow for 23 years, I could no longer come to grips with the thought that I was living far away from Armenia. The idea of repatriating was constantly spinning in my head, but I was never able to do what I had decided to do. After making the decision, I turned my longtime dream into a reality. I had set the goal to understand what I could achieve on my own.
I have been in the Homeland, my home for the past three months. As I arrived in Armenia, the first thing I did was breath the clean air. It was an indescribable feeling.
Hayern Aysor: How did your parents react to your decision?
- K.: When we would talk about repatriation at home, my parents wouldn’t treat it seriously. They thought I was joking. However, when they understood the gravity of the issue, they didn’t oppose it at all.
Moreover, they have also planned to return to Armenia, and we are working on that. My father has health problems. I hope my parents join me after his recovery.
Hayern Aysor: How do you overcome your problems? You live here alone, right?
- K.: Yes, living alone implies problems, but I never lose hope because I am the one who has chosen this lifestyle.
I mainly have domestic issues. Even if I can’t solve a problem, I ask my friends for help. I can always ask them for help to solve any issue, and they will help me.
I don’t have any difficulty with communicating with people because I have good command of Armenian. I had managed to make friends during my visits to Armenia. There are 30 young Armenians like me who have repatriated from different countries. We gather, take walks and talk about issues that concern us.
To be rest assured, I also found myself a job before moving to Armenia. I currently work for a travel agency.
Hayern Aysor: Anahit, what were you doing in Moscow? What was your day like?
- K.: I always had a busy schedule. I would work with the Armenian community of Moscow, the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan and the Union of Armenians of Russia. For a decade, I was one of the active members of the Union. I was also an assistant to the First Vice-President of the Union of Armenians of Russia for three years. The members and I have organized different kinds of programs aimed at preserving the Armenian identity, and those programs helped reinforce the feeling of patriotism within me.
As I was living abroad, I really wanted to receive an education in Armenia.
My parents paid heed to my request and would send me to Armenia for a couple of months. However, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish school in Armenia. I had to continue my studies at School N 376 in Moscow, after which I got accepted to the Moscow Academy of Tourism and acquired skills in tourism management.
Hayern Aysor: How connected are the Armenian youth of Moscow to Armenia?
- K.: The Armenian community of Moscow is large and multi-layered. Due to my job, I have had contacts with not only the Armenian community of Moscow, but also other Armenian communities across the Russian Federation. The Armenians of Russia are very different in terms of their temperament and their views on Armenia. There are Armenians who are patriots, and yet there are Armenians who are not very patriotic…
They try to do everything possible to help and contribute to Armenia’s advancement. There is a student council adjunct to the Armenian community of Moscow. The council holds different programs aimed at helping them preserve their Armenian identity. Of course, families play a major role, and they need to do everything they can to provide their children with an Armenian upbringing.
Hayern Aysor: Anahit, it is safe to consider you one of the longtime friends of the RA Ministry of Diaspora since you always sincerely participate in all the programs of the Ministry of Diaspora. Tell us about that.
- K.: I have been in active cooperation with the RA Ministry of Diaspora since the first days after it was established. I have participated in almost all the programs and am content. Through those programs, I have made many good friends from different countries, and I consider that a major achievement in my life.
The RA Ministry of Diaspora also contributed to my repatriation, for which I am grateful. I assure you that I will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Diaspora with the same vigor and not as a Diaspora Armenian, but as a full-fledged citizen of Armenia.
