State of Armenian Irregular Migrants in Turkey: Researcher/Journalist Alin Ozinian’s study was introduced with a meeting at TEPAV

ANKARA- The results of the study "State of Armenian Irregular Immigrants in Turkey" conducted by Researcher/Journalist Alin Ozinian were disclosed with a meeting held at TEPAV on February 17 

At the opening speech TEPAV Director Prof. Dr. Güven SAK underlined the importance of the rapprochement of Turkey with all Caucasian countries and maintained that the transportation corridors between Turkey and Armenia should be strengthened. Stating that migration from Armenia to Turkey is not surprising, Sak said that Turkey's economy shines like a star in its region despite the global financial crisis and that Turkey is a major industrial zone. 

Armenia-Turkey Project Leader Artak SHAKARYAN gave brief information on the Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF). Shakaryan stated that the purpose of the EPF is to promote relations between societies through mutual understanding of cultures and maintained that these efforts will make a significant contribution to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. He also said that they prioritize the human dimension of Alin Ozinian's research and seek to combine and synthesize the cross-border and immigration program. 

Alin Ozinian said that the purpose of the study conducted with the support of Eurasian Partnership Fund and with the funding of Norwegian Embassy was to determine the general state of and establish the general profile of illegal Armenian workers in Turkey, analyze their relations with the society and their social and legal problems, and provide solutions to the problems illegal workers encounter. Ozinian, as also maintained by Artak Shakaryan, emphasized that they prioritize the human dimension of the study and stressed that the news featured on the media addresses the illegal workers in the context of the Turkey-Armenia relations and discuss the deporting of the immigrants whenever an unpleasant development is heard. 

As Ozinian explains, the main reasons behind migration from Armenia to Turkey are the instability across Armenia that arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union, 1988 Armenian earthquake, tough economic conditions that were intensified with the closure of Turkey-Armenia border along with the Karabakh dispute, the fact that the Armenian population in Turkey constitutes employer potential, Turkey's soft visa regime, and the fact that transportation to Turkey is easy despite the closed borders. 96% of Armenian immigrants in Turkey are women, the majority of who works as house cleaner, nurse and babysitter. Their monthly income varies between $500 and $1000. The immigrants generally reside in Istanbul-Kumkapı. 

The majority wants to return to Armenia but they believe that they will most probably fail to do so. They have been concerned about their safety after the assassination of Hrant Dink. They generally say that they are not troubled with Turkish people and that their thoughts about Turkey changed after they started to reside in the country.