`It is difficult but children grow up Armenians’
19-01-2008 16:13:50 – KarabakhOpen
Armond Takhmuzyan went to Karabakh from Iran in 1999. `I wanted to come
to Karabakh earlier but I had problems with my passport. At last they
permitted me, I arrived here and realized that there is plenty of hard
work,’ Armond told us.
He was late for our meeting because he had to stand in line for water
from the source. In winter water freezes inside pipes in the house
where Armond’s family lives, in summer there is little water in the
river, and again they have to carry water from the source.
Nevertheless, Armond, his wife Artemis and two children stay in
Karabakh.
Armond met his future wife Artemis in 2000 who first visited Karabakh
from Australia in 1993 together with Lady Cox.
`I am a jeweler. In 2001 we opened the shop of souvenirs Nreni in
Stepanakert. We have decided to enlarge our business. I don’t have much
money, but our friends promised to help with investments. We bought
land in front of the shop and decided to build a building and set up a
travel information center. My family will live on the first floor, we
will let the other rooms. Our partners will arrive here in summer, for
the rest of the year we will let rooms. We will donate the income,’
Armond says, showing the plan of the future hotel.
`We honor the law. Perhaps everyone knows that we did not come here to
earn money. Frankly speaking, we were never checked or fined. Although
I should note that administration is too rigid. Too much bureaucracy.
It is apparently the Soviet heritage. As well as the fact that people
are used to cheating the government. Bureaucracy is a nest for bribers.
These things may disappear if the country becomes richer,’ Armond says
full of hope.
`Tax administration could have been different. For instance, as soon as
the tax service discovers a mistake, it immediately fines. I don’t
think it is the right way. First it is necessary to warn about the
mistake and fine in case it repeats,’ Artemis says.
`In our country it was different. When I worked in Iran, at the end of
each month the bank sent us an envelope with bills. We only paid the
bills. In case of problems, there are special offices you can turn to.
Karabakh is undergoing transition, but it is too slow. We don’t want to
be a burden for anyone. On the contrary, we are trying to relieve
others’ burden. Intelligent people come here. They must have an
opportunity to live and work,’ Armond says.
`It is difficult but children grow up Armenians,’ Artemis adds.