Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
Thursday
Finnish people leave Armenia with great impressions: Armenians of
Finland do their utmost to make Armenia recognizable
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Approximately more than 700
Armenians lives in Finland. They work in different fields and many of
them reached success in their spheres.
Abgar Margaryan – one of the founders of the Finland-Armenia
Association, told ARMENPRESS that the number of Armenians living in
Finland is approximate since there is no concrete statistics.
“Some Armenians immigrated from different countries with different
citizenships. Armenian is not the native language of all Armenians.
And this factor hinders having an official valid statistics. Armenians
are scattered in different cities”, he said.
Over the last years immigration began after the Middle East military
operations, when Armenians of that region, in particular, of Syria
relocated to the European counties, including Finland.
Like in the Armenian communities of different countries, the issue of
preservation of the Armenian identity is also in the agenda of the
Finnish-Armenian community. Before the registration of the
Finland-Armenia Association, the Armenian community was holding
different events in the country by the initiative of individuals.
According to Abgar Margaryan, over the years the necessary rose to
establish the organization, and starting from 2013 the Finland-Armenia
Association started its activity which aims at gathering Armenians,
creating an atmosphere of unity, organizing cultural events, as well
as creating Armenian language and cultural groups for kids.
“Despite the Association’s short history it conducted a serious
activity for the preservation of the Armenian identity. During this
period different cultural events have been organized, a Sunday school
of Armenian language has been established which operates already for
several years. The Association also closely cooperates with the
Diaspora ministry which provides the necessary materials for the
activity of the Armenian school”, he said, stating that among the
later goals is to create sports and dance groups.
One of the main goals of the Finland-Armenia Association is to
actively cooperate with the Diaspora-Armenian communities and
educational institutions. For this purpose the Association started
establishing close ties with the Armenian communities of the
neighboring states. The Association closely cooperates also with the
Armenian Embassy in Finland and Sweden. There is also the
representation of Armenian Apostolic Church in Finland. Two years ago
the Armenian friendship group has been formed in the Parliament of
Finland. The Development Fund of Armenia formed recently in Finland
will also contribute to strengthening the ties with Armenia.
“As of now the Association doesn’t have its own space, that’s why we
mainly rent, as well as cooperate with different NGOs which also
assist on this issue. Among our major problems is that Armenians live
in different cities, the distance makes difficult the communication
and the opportunity to frequently participate in different events, but
I would like to note that the number of active participants in the
community live increases year by year”, Abgar Margaryan said.
As for Armenia’s recognition among the Finnish people, Abgar Margaryan
said many are aware of Armenia and the Armenian people, but still
works need to be done on this path.
“This year our Association was participating in the annual cultural
festival in Helsinki within the frames of which we have presented
Armenia for the first time. Many Finnish people were interested in the
Armenian pavilion. Many approached us and told about Armenia, their
trip to Armenia and the desire to again visit the country. This year
we participated in the Restaurant Day festival which is quite famous
festival. The ‘Taste Armenia’ Armenian pavilion recorded an
unprecedented success. The event organizer Mariam Nurminen transferred
the proceeds to needy families of Armenia’s bordering villages. We
also have plans to more frequently participate in such festivals in
the future”, he noted.
Armenia’s Finnish partners also greatly contribute to presenting
Armenia in Finland. Margaryan informed that the Finnish people who
visited Armenia leave the country with great impressions, many of them
later again visit Armenia.
Another goal of the Association is the presentation and spread of the
Armenian culture, history in Finland by holding different events which
also contribute to voicing about the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh
issues.
