AZERIS LIVING TODAY IN ARMENIA ARE NOT FORMED AS ETHNIC GROUP, HRANUSH
KHARATIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Azeris living in Armenia are not
formed today as an ethnic group or as national minority. As Hranush
Kharatian, the Chief of the National Minorities and Religious Issues
Department of the RA Government’s staff, stated at the February 16
press conference, Azeris have no such a wish as they have anxiety that
it will damage them. In H.Kharatian’s words, they can not make public
data about the number of Azeris living in Armenia as the RA Government
signed the UN agreement on giving statistical information, according to
which, countries signed it are obliged not to give number information
about danger and groups feeling danger. H.Kharatian also informed that
Azeris living in Armenia mainly live in Yerevan, Armavir and Vardenis.
It was also mentioned that they were moved to Armenia from Azerbaijan,
with an Armenian wife or husband. According to the Department Chief,
there are also people among them left Armenia in 1988, who in future
returned as "they feel themselves better here."