EMPLOYMENT REMAINS UP IN THE AIR
Susanna Balayan

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 March 2006

Recently the passivity of young people in Karabakh, the low level of
their involvement in state building has been considered more often. The
majority of emigrants are young people, say public officials, leaders
of youth organizations, NGOs, whose activity has the same goal –
to involve young people in different projects and initiatives. This
reality is not a problem but an alarm about the situation, which may
bring about unpredictable consequences. For instance, during the ten
post-war years the population of NKR did not change essentially. The
rate of growth of the population is not high, several hundreds, or
1-2 thousand at best, says the statistical service, which is worrying
in all aspects. “We have tried to find out what the present-day youth
takes interest in, learn about their moods,” says Armineh Hayrapetian,
the chairman of Aram Manukian Students Union, “most young people live
without any hopes for improvement or for someone to do something
for them. Education, television, a concert at best or disco, this
is the narrow range of interests of today’s youth.” According to
the leader of Aram Manukian Students Union, this situation emanates
from the lack of a definite state policy on the youth problems. “The
problem of employment among young people is still up in the air,”
says Armineh Hayrapetian, “the majority of university graduates cannot
find jobs. They have to go away and work abroad. On the other hand,
if the speaker of the parliament said in an address that the youth
should not be engaged in politics, what can young people expect at
all? It is difficult to find a job, it is early for them to deal with
politics, what will their future be then?”

Nevertheless, Armineh Hayrapetian says there is progress in this
sphere, for despite the current situation new youth organizations have
emerged recently: Young Democrats, the Club of Young Politicians,
the YMCA, the youth wing of the Azat Hayrenik Party which deals
with environmental issues, and Zepyur. Armineh Petrossian, the
leader of the youth organization Hayki Serund, also agrees that
employment is a serious problem for young people. According to her,
the lack of a mechanism of relations between the government and youth
organizations, the state and the young people, is a serious obstacle
for the organization.

However, she says, there is already such a mechanism. The government
assists the projects of youth organizations rather than the youth
organizations. “All the youth organizations extended projects to
the government until January 30, and the government will decide
which projects to fund,” said Armineh Petrossian, and pointed out
that the organization led by her participates in the debates on the
new bill on the youth since January 2006 together with other youth
organizations. At the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport we were
informed that the bill on the youth has not been adopted in Armenia
yet. Its shortcomings are discussed at the ministry, as well as by
the youth organizations.

Kamo Atayan, Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, said two
chapters of the bill have been reviewed. After the bill is edited
completely, it will be extended to the government. Hopefully the
adoption of the law will help to prevent the migration of young people
from the country.