Armenians seeking seasonal work in Turkey
Armenians prefer to spend their vacations in Georgia and Turkey though Lake Sevan offers free beaches for holiday-makers. Every week three buses leave for Turkey from Yerevan's Central bus station. Most travelers go to Turkey to spend their holidays there.
One of the travelers, Suzanna Gareginyan, says Turkey offers cheaper conditions for holiday-makers, that is why they prefer to rest outside Armenia.
"You will have to play twice if you go to the Sevan," she said.
Still, there are many who go to Turkey to do seasonal work. Gyumri citizen Karine Galstyan is one of them.
"People go to Sochi to rest or to work. The same is in Turkey. As soon as the season ends, we return to Armenia," she said.
Robert Buniatyan, an employee of "Olga Tour travel" agency, says it is not difficult to find a job in Turkey. Armenians mainly work in service industry, homes or in factories.
Even the absence of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, as well as the massacre of Armenians carried out by the Ottoman Turkey in the 20th century do not prevent Armenians from establishing permanent residence in Turkey.
Karine Galstyan says our compatriots are forced to go to Turkey as they cannot find job in Armenia.
"We have to feed our children," she said adding that Turks are well-disposed to Armenians.
Her words were confirmed by the bus driver Selcu Gözen who said in Turkish, "Armenians and Turks are brothers."
