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Armenian market is small for Syrian Armenians (video)

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Siriahajer

Until today about 20 thousand Syrian Armenians have moved from Syria to Armenia; 17 thousand of them are trying to settle in Armenia. For adapting in Armenia and presenting their production, with the support of the Ministry of Diaspora today “Spirit of Syrian Armenian culture in Yerevan” philanthropic exhibition-fair, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenia, has been organized in Yerevan. During the fair Syrian Armenians presented the problems, which they face in Armenia. Silversmith Levon Keoshkeryan compares Syrian and Armenian markets, highlighting that his works are entirely handmade and are purely made of sterling silver. In Armenia they aren’t available for many people. He had a shop in Syria and didn’t lack customers. In Yerevan he doesn’t even think about a shop, “The matter of a shop is a bit difficult, in that case I must pay for house rent and also shop rent.” Rita Markosyan learnt bead weaving in Aleppo, but she had never thought about working there. Only in Armenia she has tried to earn money using this craft. She has decided to help her husband in keeping the family. “I wish there were more customers so that we could sell better,” says the bead weaver. “If we sell our production at prices we want, there will be no sale. The prices should be average, so that the people get used to it and we earn money, so that we can survive in Armenia. House rent is a big problem for us,” says confectioner Dalita Dekirmenchyan. She also highlights that in Aleppo her husband kept the family, but in Armenia he hasn’t been to find a job for already three years. Now he helps his wife develop their business. All the Syrian Armenians mention the unemployment and that Armenian market is small. Nevertheless, they are trying to adapt and only few of them think about returning.