This document summarizes research being conducted on Syrian Armenians in Armenia and their integration barriers. It provides background on the 60,000-80,000 strong Armenian diaspora in Syria that has fled to Armenia due to civil war. While 6000-7000 are estimated to be in Armenia, only 4000-5000 may have registered. Major barriers to integration include lack of housing, unemployment, low salaries, and language difficulties. The response from the Armenian government and NGOs is assessed, noting initiatives to aid with citizenship, healthcare, loans and jobs, but also a lack of coordination between stakeholders.
This document summarizes findings from the 2013 Caucasus Barometer survey data on public perceptions in South Caucasus countries. Some key findings include:
- Over 2,000 people were surveyed in each South Caucasus country using multi-stage cluster sampling. The survey covered topics like domestic politics, international relations, social capital, living standards, and development perspectives.
- On domestic politics, respondents had varying views on the direction of their country's politics and levels of democracy. Freedom of speech and fairness of elections also received mixed responses.
- Regarding international relations, support for membership in organizations like the EU, NATO, and Eurasian Economic Community varied between countries. Views on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict also differed
The document provides templates for calendar pages in different styles. It includes templates for monthly calendar pages labeled with months from June to November and January to May. The templates include space for inserting text and include bullet points and labels for weekdays and dates. A logo can be inserted at the bottom of each template page.
Villa Romana high school is a large, beautiful school with about 450 students aged 12 to 18. It has big playgrounds with basketball courts, football fields, and a cafeteria. The students' favorite subject is Catalan. Their school year starts on September 7th and ends on June 22nd, with terms ending on December 21st and starting again on January 10th and March 11th. The school celebrates the festival of Sant Jordi on April 23rd, where roses are given to friends and partners to symbolize passion, fertility, and Catalonia. The school also has three laboratories and a library.
Ejmiadzin, the ancient capital of Armenia, is where Jesus Christ is said to have indicated the spot for the Holy Ejmiatsin Cathedral, erected in the 4th century. The Garni Temple is a 2000 year old basalt temple surrounded by Ionic columns. The Khor Virap monastery offers views of Mount Ararat and is where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before converting the king. Noravank monastery housed a piece of the True Cross and was the spiritual center of the region. Tatev monastery was built between the 9th-13th centuries as an intellectual center for monks.
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This document summarizes findings from the 2013 Caucasus Barometer survey data on public perceptions in South Caucasus countries. Some key findings include:
- Over 2,000 people were surveyed in each South Caucasus country using multi-stage cluster sampling. The survey covered topics like domestic politics, international relations, social capital, living standards, and development perspectives.
- On domestic politics, respondents had varying views on the direction of their country's politics and levels of democracy. Freedom of speech and fairness of elections also received mixed responses.
- Regarding international relations, support for membership in organizations like the EU, NATO, and Eurasian Economic Community varied between countries. Views on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict also differed
The document provides templates for calendar pages in different styles. It includes templates for monthly calendar pages labeled with months from June to November and January to May. The templates include space for inserting text and include bullet points and labels for weekdays and dates. A logo can be inserted at the bottom of each template page.
Villa Romana high school is a large, beautiful school with about 450 students aged 12 to 18. It has big playgrounds with basketball courts, football fields, and a cafeteria. The students' favorite subject is Catalan. Their school year starts on September 7th and ends on June 22nd, with terms ending on December 21st and starting again on January 10th and March 11th. The school celebrates the festival of Sant Jordi on April 23rd, where roses are given to friends and partners to symbolize passion, fertility, and Catalonia. The school also has three laboratories and a library.
Ejmiadzin, the ancient capital of Armenia, is where Jesus Christ is said to have indicated the spot for the Holy Ejmiatsin Cathedral, erected in the 4th century. The Garni Temple is a 2000 year old basalt temple surrounded by Ionic columns. The Khor Virap monastery offers views of Mount Ararat and is where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before converting the king. Noravank monastery housed a piece of the True Cross and was the spiritual center of the region. Tatev monastery was built between the 9th-13th centuries as an intellectual center for monks.
This document summarizes Armenia's care reform efforts from 1991 to the present. It outlines the key phases and achievements of reform, including establishing a legal framework for children's rights, developing a three-tiered child protection system, transforming special schools to inclusive models, establishing early screening and community-based rehabilitation services, and reducing child poverty rates. However, it notes that 33.7% of Armenian children still live in poverty, with higher rates in rural areas, and that further reform efforts are still needed to improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
The document provides a summary of Eurasia Partnership Foundation's (EPF) work in Armenia from 1992 to 2009. It discusses EPF's establishment, key programs and initiatives over the years in areas such as small business support, regional media, anti-corruption efforts, youth programs, and work on Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. It also outlines EPF's strategy, funding sources, and core values like building trust across borders and promoting freedom of expression.
This document summarizes the results of a taxpayer perception survey conducted in Armenia in November and December 2013. Over 1,400 households and 400 businesses were surveyed to understand public attitudes toward taxes and tax authorities. Key findings included:
- Most Armenians have some knowledge of taxes but lack detailed understanding. Many businesses feel taxes are too high.
- Compliance with tax laws is mixed, with underreporting of income common. Willingness to pay taxes is relatively low.
- Trust in state authorities is limited, with corruption seen as widespread. The tax system is viewed as unpredictable.
- Activities of tax authorities are not seen as very useful by most taxpayers. National pride in paying taxes is also limited.
The Female Labor Force Participation in the South CaucasusCRRC Armenia
This research analyzes factors influencing female labor force participation and attitudes toward female employment in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia using survey data from 2010. The study finds that having a higher education positively impacts female labor force participation and negative attitudes toward men having preferential access to jobs in all three countries. Living in capital cities was associated with lower female labor force participation in Armenia but more negative attitudes toward men's job preferences in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The results suggest policies to promote female education and employment opportunities in capital cities could help advance gender equality in the labor forces of these countries.
The document discusses Armenia's economy and key development challenges. It notes that Armenia experienced strong growth following the global financial crisis, but the economy remained dependent on non-tradable sectors. Poverty decreased but inequality increased. The World Bank intends to support job creation through improving the business environment, agriculture, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability. Priority reform areas include health, education, social protection, disaster risk management, and anti-corruption.
This document summarizes research being conducted on Syrian Armenians in Armenia. It discusses the research objectives and methodology, provides background information on Syrian Armenians in Armenia, examines their legal status and major barriers to integration. It then outlines the key stakeholders involved in response efforts, including the Armenian government and non-governmental organizations. Finally, it assesses the actions taken by stakeholders and identifies some limitations.
The document summarizes findings from the 2011 Caucasus Barometer survey, which polled almost 2,000 people in each South Caucasus country on their perceptions of political, social, and economic issues. Key topics included life satisfaction, living standards, attitudes toward institutions, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and external perceptions. Unemployment, poverty, and inflation were consistently cited as the most important issues facing each country from 2009 to 2011.
This document summarizes the results of a taxpayer perception survey conducted in Armenia in November and December 2013. Over 1,400 households and 400 businesses were surveyed to understand public attitudes toward taxes and tax authorities. Key findings included:
- Most Armenians have some knowledge of taxes but lack detailed understanding. Many businesses feel taxes are too high.
- Compliance with tax laws is mixed, with underreporting of income common. Willingness to pay taxes is relatively low.
- Trust in state authorities is limited, with corruption seen as widespread. The tax system is viewed as unpredictable.
- Activities of tax authorities are not seen as very useful by most taxpayers. National pride in paying taxes is also limited.
The Female Labor Force Participation in the South CaucasusCRRC Armenia
This research analyzes factors influencing female labor force participation and attitudes toward female employment in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia using survey data from 2010. The study finds that having a higher education positively impacts female labor force participation and negative attitudes toward men having preferential access to jobs in all three countries. Living in capital cities was associated with lower female labor force participation in Armenia but more negative attitudes toward men's job preferences in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The results suggest policies to promote female education and employment opportunities in capital cities could help advance gender equality in the labor forces of these countries.
The document discusses Armenia's economy and key development challenges. It notes that Armenia experienced strong growth following the global financial crisis, but the economy remained dependent on non-tradable sectors. Poverty decreased but inequality increased. The World Bank intends to support job creation through improving the business environment, agriculture, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability. Priority reform areas include health, education, social protection, disaster risk management, and anti-corruption.
This document summarizes research being conducted on Syrian Armenians in Armenia. It discusses the research objectives and methodology, provides background information on Syrian Armenians in Armenia, examines their legal status and major barriers to integration. It then outlines the key stakeholders involved in response efforts, including the Armenian government and non-governmental organizations. Finally, it assesses the actions taken by stakeholders and identifies some limitations.
The document summarizes findings from the 2011 Caucasus Barometer survey, which polled almost 2,000 people in each South Caucasus country on their perceptions of political, social, and economic issues. Key topics included life satisfaction, living standards, attitudes toward institutions, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and external perceptions. Unemployment, poverty, and inflation were consistently cited as the most important issues facing each country from 2009 to 2011.
Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration
1. Research in Progress
Syrian Armenians in Armenia:
Pathways and Barriers to Integration
Anastasia Baskina
International Fellow, CRRC-Armenia
6 February, 2013.
Yerevan
CRRC-Armenia
www.crrc.am
www.crrccenters.org
2. Presentation Structure
1. Research objectives and methodology
2. Background information and basic facts
3. Legal status of Syrian Armenians in Armenia
4. Major barriers to integration
5. Key stakeholders and their response
6. Assessement of stakeholders‘ actions
7. Q & A and Discussion
3. 1. Research objectives and
methodology
Research objectives:
• To identify major barriers to integration of Syrian Armenians in
Armenia
• To examine measures undertaken by the government, civil society and
international organizations to address the issue
Methodology:
• 10 Expert interviews (MoD, Coordination Center, State Migration
Service, Mission Armenia, Red Cross, RepatArmenia, Cilicean school, …)
• 9 Interviews with representatives of SA Diaspora in Armenia
Limitations: No official statistics available, difficult or
impossible to verify numbers and facts
4. 2. Background information
• Armenian Diaspora in Syria before the war: 60.000-80.000 people
• Concentrated mainly in Aleppo; middle-class
• Civil war in Syria since March 2011
• Thousands SA left for Armenia, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf
states, Europe
• Aleppo-Yerevan flights are currently suspended. Latakia-Yerevan
flight instead, 10-12 hours by bus to Latakia from Aleppo
• 6000-7000 Syrian Armenians in Armenia because of the conflict;
though the real figure could be lower - 4000-5000
• Only about 10% register with the State Migration Service
• 90% stay in Yerevan
5. 3. Legal status
• Options:
– Armenian passport
– Residence permit (1, 5, 10 years)
– Visa
• Very few apply for refugee status (580 as of mid-January)
– Refugees de facto but not de jure
6. 4. Major barriers to integration
• Housing (lack of social housing)
• Unemployment and low salaries
(most work outside of their field)
• Food
• Winter clothing, shoes
• Household items, furniture, etc.
• Language
• False expectations
7. 5. Key stakeholders
• Governmental actors: Ministry of Diaspora, M. of
Economics, M. of Health, M. of Education and
Science, National Center for SME, …
• International organizations, UN, NGOs, Diaspora and
ecumenical organizations, foreign governments: Center
for Coordination of Syrian Armenians’
Issues, AGBU, ARF, Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Cilicia
charitable organization, RepatArmenia, Armenia Inter-Church
Charitable Round Table
Foundation, UNHCR, UNICEF, Armenian Red Cross
Society, Mission Armenia, Saved Relics, Kuwait, …
8. 5.1. Governmental response
• Applications for Armenian citizenship from Syria
• Visa at the border
• Exemption from visa and residence permit fees
• Free health care
• University tuition fees
• Syrian driving licenses
• Orientation classes for prospective businessmen
• Start-up loans up to USD 12.000 with 5% interest rate
• Job fairs, consultations
9. 5.2. Non-governmental response
• Center for Coordination of SA issues – coordination, aid
distribution
• AGBU – housing subsidies (AMD 40.000-60.000)
• Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table – food coupons to
200 families
• Armenia Relief Society – “Help your brother initiative”
• UNHCR (through Red Cross and Mission Armenia) - coupons for
winter clothing, shoes; furniture, household items, medical care
• Cilicia charity– Syrian Armenian school in Yerevan (around 310 kids)
• Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
• RepatArmenia – Syrian Armenian Market Project
• Kuwait – USD 100.000 - food coupons for 1000 families
10. 6. Assessment of stakeholders’
actions
• Lack of centralized information and communication
between all parties involved - > word of mouth, rumors
• Delayed response (housing!)
• Limited resources creating structural barriers
• Passive approach to fundraising
• Government focus on business leaders so far
• Hard to make needs assessment – fair aid distribution?