Armenia is a mono-ethnic state with 98% of the population being Armenians. This fact has its advantages: it frees us from the many problems that multinational countries have. It also has its downside: today’s average Armenian is surprised when, say, they meet a foreigner on the streets of Yerevan. Our young and middle-aged citizens in particular have not lived in a multinational empire and, on the other hand, many of them do not have the opportunity to travel.
These people lack the experience of communicating with foreigners. This is probably where the dissatisfaction expressed out loud or “in their minds” comes from: why are there so many Indians, Persians, or even Syrian-Armenians? Such an approach does not speak to our xenophobia, rather it is a consequence of our certain encroachment in recent decades. That, of course, is a shortcoming. If you do not have the practice of interacting with this or that ethnic group, it can lead to uncertainty or fear of lack of information. Personally, I have no prejudices against any nation. Including Turks.
Another issue is that our relevant bodies should pay attention to the citizens of that country, the representatives of that ethnos visiting Armenia. But if the guest who came here does not have bad intentions towards our state, then their visit should only be welcomed.
No matter for how long the citizens of Russia and Ukraine have arrived, our private business is obliged to provide them with quality services. (By the way, the greed of airlines and real estate owners does not look good: I think a restrained attitude is more perspective for a long time, rather than chasing super profits). If guests have problems with work or business, the state should support them without bureaucratic hassle. Of course, given the Western sanctions, it is necessary to be cautious.
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And we, ordinary citizens, must be open to communication with representatives of any nation. They do not take our jobs away from us, nor can they change the demographic picture of the country. On the contrary, they will enrich us in the literal and figurative senses of the word.
Aram Abrahamyan
