“Besides the Homeland and away from the Homeland, all heavens are deceiving for me”

Garegin Nzhdeh

Many Armenians living in different corners of the globe wish to return to and settle in the Homeland. “Hayern Aysor”’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Varant Bedrosian

who repatriated from Iraq several years ago.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Bedrosian, you gave such a cordial and patriotic speech during the event dedicated to the 6^th anniversary of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and ended it by reciting a patriotic poem. How did the love for the Homeland inspire you?

V. B.: Of course, the inspiration comes from my parents, and first and foremost, from my late father. My father always said: “God is above, the Homeland, Armenia is below”. My father raised and educated us with that principle. We loved Armenia and lived with longing for it without having seen it. We repatriated to Armenia, my father came with us, saw the Homeland of his dreams and passed away a couple of months later. We have always lived with the vision of an independent Armenia. Many Armenians didn’t believe in seeing an independent Armenia, but we believed there would come a day when the tricolor Armenian flag would wave again. People didn’t believe that the Soviet Union would be history, but that empire collapsed. It’s the same nowadays. When we sing about going to our land-Western Armenia, the same people underestimate us and say it’s impossible since Turkey is a powerful country…We shouldn’t sit with our hands folded. Besides receiving the milk from their mothers, our children must be “nourished” with patriotism and with the idea of restoring our rights. The day and moment will come. Turkey won’t be the Turkey that it is today. If we sit with our hands folded, then, as Khrimyan Hayrik used to say, “We won’t be able to have our share of the Harisa…”

“Hayern Aysor”: When did you repatriate and what was the main reason?

V. B.: Our family had always wanted to move to Armenia, but when the war broke out in Iraq and U.S. troops entered Baghdad in 2003, my wife and I decided to move, meaning the situation made us turn our dream into a reality sooner. We saw that Iraq was in a downfall and quickly decided to move. There were many people inviting us to the U.S. and Europe and many said Iraq would soon become a wealthy and luxurious country like Dubai and the United Arab Emirates and that we shouldn’t leave…I would tell them that those Emirates are of no value to me and that it would be better for me to go to my Homeland and make a living there rather than feel wealthy in a land of foreigners. On December 1, 2003, we arrived in Armenia.

“Hayern Aysor”: Wasn’t any one of your family members against repatriation?

V. B.: No, we all agreed, and my wife, two daughters and I made the move. My parents, brother and in-laws came a couple of months later. We sold our house and bought a house in Armenia and started a new life.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Bedrosian, wasn’t it hard to start a new life? Did you adapt easily?

V. B.: When things change, there are always difficulties. If we moved from one district of Baghdad to another, we would still face difficulties. There would be new neighbors, a new environment and new kinds of relations…We also faced difficulties in Armenia, but we overcame them and adapted. The important thing is that this is Armenia, the home of all Armenians. I had contact with my Homeland before the move to Armenia. I had been a member of the board of the Armenian Co-Ed Youth Union of Baghdad for many years and was one of the active members of the literature club. We would organize many literary, artistic and patriotic events and always kept in touch with representatives of Armenia’s newspapers and magazines. We also had strong cultural ties. I remember there was a Diaspora Committee that we sent letters to and received responses. The Committee members would send us books, newspapers and magazines. Right after Armenia’s declaration of independence, on September 23, 200 pilgrims of the Armenian community of Baghdad and I came to Armenia and participated in the Muron blessing ceremony that was called the Muron Blessing of Independence. Upon my return, I decided that we had to move, but the laws during the reign of Saddam were very strict, and leaving the country was due to certain conditions and we couldn’t move. After the change of rule, we repatriated as soon as we had the chance. We made our decision so quickly that even my friends were amazed, but I reminded them of the Armenian saying: “While the clever one thinks, the mad one gets there”.

“Hayern Aysor”: Did it take you a long time to find a job? What is your profession? Where did you start working after you moved to Armenia?

V. B.: I’m a geologist by profession. I worked at the phosphate mines in Iraq for six years. It was a difficult job. I would work in the desert for a long time. I was cut off from the family. So, I quit that job and started making jewels (thank God, I had learned that craft at an early age). I would place diamonds on gold. I found that job in the first month. I had a Lebanese acquaintance who found me a job at a jewelry company, but due to the heavy workload, I started having headaches and problems with vision, and the doctor advised me to quit that job. I met with the administration of the Mountain Enrichment Factory. The administration hired me, especially when the leaders found out that I’m a geologist. Since the professional terms were in Russian, they were able to hire me as a supplier. Unfortunately, there are already some changes in my job, and I don’t know what I’ll be doing next. I’m waiting

“Hayern Aysor”: I know your wife, Sossi Avagian works for the “Hayern Aysor” electronic newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. What about your daughters?

V. B.: My daughter is married to a great Iraqi-Armenian man and they have a child. My younger daughter, Arpi is in the 12^th grade and wants to become a journalist like you.

“Hayern Aysor”: What is your wish to Armenians living abroad? Would you advise them to come and settle in the Homeland?

V. B.: I definitely would. I urge all Armenians to return to Armenia. No matter which country Armenians live in, it’s a foreign country. Our country is Armenia! As long as Armenians haven’t completely assimilated, they have to repatriate. It’s a tough decision, but they have to be determined. Did you see what happened in Iraq and Syria? The new generations of Armenians and their children have started speaking in foreign languages. I have heard them tell me how “their grandfather was Armenian…” Can you imagine? They’re not saying they are Armenian. They’re saying their grandfather was Armenian…It’s very painful. Armenia is the only place where your child automatically grows up as an Armenian.

“Hayern Aysor”: You are a creative person, am I right?

V. B.: Yes, I write and have written many articles. I have my own blog at www.hayrenagan.blogspot.com where I post patriotic articles devoted to Armenian intellectuals, famous writers and national figures. I recently attended the reburial of General Sepuh and wrote about it. Nayiri Megerdichian posts my articles on the Yerakouyn website in Western Armenian. I love writing and creating. It’s a part of my world.

“Hayern Aysor”: When did you establish contacts with the RA Ministry of Diaspora?

V. B.: In 2008, I founded the Cultural Non-Governmental Organization of Iraqi-Armenians, and that’s when I established contacts with the RA Ministry of Diaspora. Our organization has carried out several events, including lectures, dance shows and exhibitions. I am no longer working for the organization, but the boys are working. They just need a space where they can gather and carry out their activities.

“Hayern Aysor”: If everything in Iraq gets back on track and if Iraq, as your friends were trying to convince you, becomes a country like Dubai, would you like to return to your birthplace?

V. B.: No, I won’t go back. Don’t think I don’t love Iraq, Baghdad. That’s where I was born. I’m grateful to Baghdad and the sincere Arabs who supported the migrant Armenians having survived the Armenian Genocide. Having lost everything, the Armenians reached the deserts of Iraq, and the Arabs extended a helping hand to them, gave them places to stay and created conditions for them to work and get back on their feet. Armenians are hard-working people and have continued to live and have become wealthy through hard work. You’ll rarely find poor Armenians in Armenia. I would like to go and visit my birthplace and see my friends and acquaintances. I have been living in Armenia for 11 years and have only left Armenia once. I went to Georgia and rushed to return to Armenia as soon as possible.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Bedrosian, are there any phenomena or elements of people’s personalities that you haven’t adapted with yet?

V. B.: I haven’t adapted to the pessimism. I don’t accept the phrase “the country is not a country”. The person who says that is a person who neglects his parents, children, past and present. Instead of damning the darkness, each person should light a candle to light everything up. With that pessimistic expression we’re supporting the enemy, and that’s not the way of doing things for Armenians. I think this comes from the Soviet era because there was no state mindset. In our yard there is a fountain. I make sure the area near the fountain is clean. Passers-by pass and ask me why I’m doing that…I think each person, each Armenian in Armenia should do something helpful in the city, at home and in the yard.

“Hayern Aysor”: What does the Homeland mean to you?

V. B.: Of course, it’s sacred and the last and only landmark for us Armenians. I would like to answer with the following words by Garegin Nzhdeh: “Besides the Homeland and away from the Homeland, all heavens are deceiving for me”.

Interview by Karine Avagyan