Armenians in Moscow

[Helen]

Diana,

I think diaspora in Russia need to get matured. Presently in Russia we have 3 main waves of emmigration (one can argue that even more, and I might agree, please pay attention to main): during soviet time(they are mainly well known academitians, well known doctors, politicians), than wave that came after the collapse of USSR and Baku -Kirovabad-Sumagait tradegy, and the last one that joins people who moved after the actions in parliament.

So the history of diaspora is not so long...The fisrt wave was satisfied by the church and in soviet time was was mainly assimilated (more / less).. However the new waves require Armenian cultural institutions... I think we might learn a lot from USA diaspora how to build relationsbetween church and society, learn lobbying(new technologies, that are so popular and will come also to Russia I belive). I think the congress that is planned for August(if I am not mistaken) will discuss the cooperation issues b/w Russian and USA diasporas.

With reg. to students staying abroad: I personally know several who came back.

look for example here: www.baa.am

They are all got education abroad, had number of chances to get a good job in Europe but they came back to be engaged into life of Armenia and now doing their best. There are also several groups who are acting very actively abroad, making networks and making connections with diaspora stronger.

However on my own experience, I met couple of armenians studying at U.PENN who could not realize: Why should they do anything for Armenia? Do some research papers for Armenia?.....or even.. they were lazy to go to church on Sundays...why should they waste their time????

So there are different cases that we need to consider and do not need always be emotional. Given the conditions, at soome point of maturity people are coming back...

This is what many of us dream actually...to go back one day....

[Diana]

Helen ,

I think we are talking about same thing just from different dimensions. I don't know about Armenian diaspora in Russia, never lived there . But if Russian diaspora feels that there is need to learn and adapt some of the views and concepts from american-armenians ,its up to them. Any path that leads to better life in Armenia will be acceptable by me.