Syrian Armenian is surprised at the migration rate in Armenia (video)
Pertch Msrlyan had children’s clothing factory in Syria for 22 years. After moving to Armenia, he understood that he couldn’t have the same business here as there are different conditions here. “Raw materials must be brought here, I must pay customs duties and other additional actions, so the cost price is very expensive,”- says Pertch Msrlyan. Here he founded his personal fast food restaurant. He is pleased with the success in business. He has problems with the tax administrations only because of the language, “There we studied Arabic, on the other hand there is difference between Eastern and Western Armenian.” During two and a half years in Armenia he has noticed much, “I am surprised at the fact that even people living here try to leave their homeland, friends and relatives.” Syrian Armenians’ issues coordinating center head Lena Halajyan notes that 80-90 percent of Syrian Armenians have passports, but the problems of accommodation and employment remain their main problems. Housing fees are very expensive and Syrian Armenians, who don’t have relevant salary, aren’t able to pay them. Mrs. Halajyan singles out the following difficulty of employment: “They have problems with Eastern Armenian especially when the job is connected with reading and writing. That’s why Syrian Armenians are mostly included in particular spheres, for example cooking, waiter, taxi driver and others than in office work.” At present about 12 thousands Syrian Armenians live in Armenia. 10-15 percent of them have already migrated into the third country and another part expressed willingness to return to Syria.
