Border: war against social issues
In the Soviet era, the Berkaber village bordering Tavush province was known for its vineyards and wheat fields. Now when one-third of the 1,170 hectare area is under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces, villagers are trying to find other sources of income and more often leave the village to settle in cities of the province, Yerevan or leave the country for good.
As a rule, those who leave the country never return. As one of the Berkaber village council employees told "A1+", out of the 528 registered residents, there are nearly 450 living in the village, that is, 130 families.
"This is not instruction, it is self-deception"
Principal of the Berkaber village school Henrik Arzumanyan had rejected a tempting offer to leave for the United States and now tries to make teaching inviting for children.
"In 2001, there were 85 students, but now there are only 43. It is a village on the border and we often hear shots. Parents want to take their children to schools in safer villages and that also turns into a reason for families to leave Berkaber," says Mr. Arzumanyan.
Out of the classes for 11 age groups, only three are "packed" and the others have one teacher for two classes in the same room with different curricula. "That distorts the educational process. It is not instruction, it is self-deception," says the school principal.
Shots are heard during the lessons and classroom windows are broken. "Children go under their desks. This has an impact on their psychology, but we are doing everything possible to keep the school."
Government forgot
Mamikon Khudaverdyan's home is located in the sector of the village that looks toward the border guards.
Mamikon, 59, has three children and is known in the village for his pineapple garden, but complains that the local authorities are not supporting him by compensating at least a part of the land tax.
"I cultivate the land as I hear gun shots, but am forced to pay the same amount of tax that farmers in the Ararat Vally pay," says Mamikon, who is sure that this approach contributes to emigration.
Since the years of the war, Mamikon has been waiting for the government to fulfill its promise and renovate the walls of the top story of his home.
Everyone suffers from the war
Former freedom fighter Zhora Tamrazyan says those living right next to the border should be given social and taxing privileges.
Since 1989, Zhora and his fellow villagers participated in the self-defense battles with hunting guns and guns that they made themselves and received an injury. He named the fellow villagers and said he was certain that the village is ready to defend the land in case of need.
However, he is more concerned about other issues. "The village is surviving thanks to loans. There are families that have taken loans to have their economies get back on their feet, but the interest rates are so high that it is almost impossible for them to pay off the loans."
Speaking about contacts with residents of Azerbaijani dwellings located a couple of kilometers away, he said:
"In any case, the people are always ready for peace. We had been friends for years, but then we quarreled. Everyone suffers from the war." Zhora says reconciliation doesn't happen overnight and it will take a little while for the ice to break.
Hakob Karapetyan
