On February 11 and 12, several Syrian-Armenians living in Armenia participated in the already traditional “Breath of Syrian-Armenian Culture in Yerevan” exhibition-sale, which was hosted in the vestibule of the Faculty of Philology of Yerevan State University on the occasion of the Armenian Tyarndarach holiday of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church. The event was organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora and the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO. Hayern Aysor’s correspondent had interviews with the Syrian-Armenians.

Antranik Derderian: This is the first time I am participating in this exhibition-sale. I am presenting the sweet sahlab pastry, which is common and accepted in Syria. I am mixing it, do you see? The steam rises, and people come here and ask what is cooking with great interest. This is something new for citizens of Armenia. It is a mixture of milk, starch, sugar and vanilla. We serve it hot, and a small cup of sahlab costs AMD 200. We mainly serve this to children with pie in the mornings. It is very tasty and nutritious.

Hagop Naggashian: I have been living in Armenia for nine months, and this is the third time I am participating in this exhibition-sale. I am presenting my handmade jewels. The prices are affordable. Young visitors are more interested in these silver jewels. I hope to do good trade in these next two days. Both we and our buyers will be happy.

Levon Keoshkarian: I have been living in Armenia for the past nine months, and this is the second time I am participating in the exhibition-sale. I sell my handmade items, including silver jewels, plates and cups. The visitors, particularly the youth are more interested in rings, earrings and necklaces. I have also sold my items at the Vernisazh flea market, but I don’t go there anymore due to the cold weather. I would also sell my items in Syria, but a whole family could earn a living with that. One member of the family would work, and 5-6 members would earn a good living. I always remember our home in Aleppo and the familiar environment, but we don’t have any problems here either. We have already adapted. Thank God, we are content. The people are kind and cordial, and even strangers aspire to help us with whatever they can. We are grateful. When peace is established in Syria, we will return because we have left a lot of things there, including our house, stores, friends, schools, as well as historical and cultural values. Time will show. Nobody knows how all this will end.

Dalar Keshkerian: My husband, George and our children (3 years old and 7 years old) have been living in Armenia for three years now. We have adapted to the new environment. One of my children goes to a kindergarten, and the other goes to school. We are safe and sound in Armenia. A person always feels at ease in his or her homeland. My husband and I had the same job in Aleppo, but we produced more items. Thank God we sold something today!

George Keshkerian: My wife already said that we used to do the same thing in Syria. We sold silver jewels. There are jewels that we have made, and we also import items. I mainly sell our items at the Vernisazh flea market. We hope everyone will be content with this exhibition-sale.

Victoria Kuchukian-Sarkisian: The clothes made by my mother, grandmother and mother-in-law are among the clothes that we are showcasing here. All Syrian-Armenian women are gifted. They know how to sew and prepare tasty dishes. This is the tenth time we are participating in this exhibition-sale. People mainly buy spring clothes and pants. I don’t have a stable job in Armenia. My husband, George Sarkisian is a singer and is the only breadwinner. I am fluent in Arabic, English and Turkish. In Aleppo I was a school principal. I would like to work with languages here as well and participate in exhibition-sales on my free time.

Marie Yepremian: I have been living in Armenia for the past three-and-a-half years and have already participated in many exhibitions. I sell jewelry. The visitors are mainly young people. I believe I will sell items during these two days. This exhibition-sale is also a comparative presentation of the items made by Syrian-Armenians and the local Armenians, and there are both similarities and differences. Many people simply tour the hall with interest and admiration and look at the items. Students mainly buy food and jewels.

Ani Artinian: My husband and I have been in Armenia for three years. My husband used to work at a factory here, but he has been unemployed for 5-6 months. I always sell food, pictures and crosses at exhibitions. I am content with the sales. We hope this is a win-win situation. All the locals are interested in our dishes. We are used to seeing Syrian-Armenian women make unique foods and pastries. We are doing what we used to do in our birthplace.

Maral Sherminian-Berberian: I have been in Armenia for almost a year. In Aleppo I was a housewife. I am participating in this exhibition-sale for the third time. The felt items displayed on my table were made by a group, and the rest (braids) are my handmade items. Youth are mainly the ones approaching me and asking about my items. One of the reasons why is because the exhibition-sale is being held in the vestibule of the Faculty of Philology of Yerevan State University. Our customers are students and professors. In general, everyone is very interested in the works of Syrian-Armenians. It is a nice environment, and we are in an active, happy and festive atmosphere. We are mainly surrounded by Syrian-Armenians, and most of them know each other. These exhibitions also serve as a unique opportunity for meeting new people and establishing contacts.

Sarkis Jamkochian: We have been living in Armenia for three years. This is the first time I am participating in this exhibition-sale. I sell different items and materials. For instance, this soap is an olive soap made from natural raw material. We have a shop at Halabyan Street where we sell these products imported from Syria. Each item made from natural raw material has a price, and it’s not cheap.

…If the war ends and everything is restored in Syria, we will return, though our house has been destroyed. We can’t purchase a house here. It would be wrong to say that we have completely adapted to the new environment. We have adapted more or less. Let’s wait for the developments. May God help Syria!

Hovhannes Boyajian: I have been in Armenia for six-and-a-half months and am participating in this exhibition-sale for the second time. I brought the showcased items from Syria. I don’t have a place or funds here yet. In Aleppo I was a jeweler and had a store. Now I have no funding. I left my home and stores there and came to Armenia with my mother. After the war, if I find a job here, we won’t return to Syria.

Vatche Anjaoghlian: We have been living in Armenia for the past three-and-a-half years. We have a store and food production unit at 41 Hrachya Kochar Street. We produce tahini, from which we produce the natural oil of sesame seeds. All the items on display are our products. We have rose oil, pomegranate syrup and a thick cancroide of the flowers of an orange…I am a builder by profession. In Syria I also had a printing house where we would print pictures on clothes. I tried to start that business here, but it didn’t work out. I studied at the former Polytechnic Institute of Yerevan. I would like to see our compatriots buy local products, not foreign products. We need to boost industry in various fields. Armenians are talented and can do that, if they are provided with opportunities. We need to encourage small and medium businesses and not set the same demands on large, big and small companies.

Ioland Hatdat-Sapounjian: I have been in Armenia for three years. My husband and I work at home. My husband buys food, and I make different kinds of dishes and pastries and sell them. People know our location, and our products are in high demand. I have participated in many exhibitions. I am content with the sales that were made at this exhibition-sale. We will stay in Armenia. Our children study here, and we don’t plan on leaving the Homeland.

Doudou Kamakli: We left Syria three years ago. I must say that we face hardships here. This is the first time I am participating in this exhibition-sale. I have presented different dishes, including ishli kyufta, pancakes, pizzas, dolma and lahmajoun…The students bought many things. My grandson, Khatchig is also with me.

Khatchig Abgarian: I was born in Syria, but am growing up in Armenia. I go to school and have many friends. I remember Aleppo, my childhood friends and our playgrounds. I miss our home and my bed. I don’t get bored at the exhibition because this exhibition is like a color fair where there are many visitors. I would be happy if everyone bought our dishes. That would lift my grandmother’s spirits. I talk to my friends on my mobile phone and play games, and when I feel hungry, I eat my grandmother’s dishes.

Karine Avagyan