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THEY LONG FOR THEIR RELATIVES
[02:28 pm] 28 December, 2007

Over 246 elderly people have found lodgings in a
retirement home in Chorrord Village. The state budget
daily allots 2450 drams for each of them. A total of
200580 drams are earmarked to the retirement home a
month.

The retirement home is getting ready for the New Year
party. A Christmas tree is being erected in the
canteen.

On the eve of New Year some dwellers recall the years
of their childhood and youth, others wish success and
happiness to their children and future generations.

`I wish lasting peace all over the world. I wish our
living conditioned bettered and Armenians working
overseas were back,’ 77-year-old Grandfather Hovhannes
said.

He even recited a poem written by him.

Hovhannes doesn’t remember his childhood very well as
`it passed in constant turmoil and painstaking work.’
Then the Great Patriotic War broke out and his parents
left for the battlefield.

`We lived with fear in our hearts. Then I grew up, got
higher education and started a family. And now? It is
already six years I am here. I am no better off than
at the start. Why should I here? ‘

Nevertheless, Hovhannes did not complain of his
children. Just on the contrary, he thanked God for his
children. `Whenever I look back I become convinced
that as a parent I have provided my children with
everything I could. Why should I ask them for
something in return? They hardly make both ends meet,’
he says.

Grandpa Hovhannes married Mrs. Tamara in the
retirement home. They live a happy life together
enjoying every ounce of sunny days.

83-year-old Levon Movisissian also got married in the
retirement home. He feels well as he is always
surrounded with love and care. He only longs for his
grandchildren.

`I wish people lived in harmony and peace. I wish
youth lived better,’ he says.