There is a problem of preservation of the national identity and the Armenian culture in all the countries where Armenians reside, said student Lilit Pepanyan in the course of a “Problems of Armenia and Diaspora” conference organized by the Armenian Center for National and International Studies.

“Turkey is rather a democratic country not to jail someone for being an Armenian, but on the whole Armenians are not welcomed in the country,” she said. According to her, this problem is topical in particular in Turkey. The reason is lack of contacts with Armenia and the blockade of the border. However, the main reason is the representatives of the Armenian community of Turkey do not have an opportunity to express themselves as Armenians.

Armenian citizens face other problems leaving for Turkey to earn money. Armenian diploma is not recognized in the neighboring country. Frequently people having higher education are compelled to work as nurses, housekeepers, etc.

Lilit Pepanyan also stressed that one of the major problems is trafficking.

A child born in a family of the Armenian citizens does not get a passport in Turkey. He should be taken to Armenia to get it, which, in its turn, is impossible without any documents, she added. In fact an Armenian child in Turkey has no opportunity to get education as well.