Arminé of Artsakh and the spirit of the season

by Maria Titizian

Published: Friday December 18, 2009 in Living in Armenia

Every morning when Arminé woke up, there would be a question on her mind: would the war end today so that she could finally ride her orange tricycle?.

Today, Arminé's family consists of only  three people. Her mother, Melania, her brother, Armen, who is currently a student at the Vazken Sargsian Military Institute in Artsakh, and herself.

Arminé says that one of the greatest difficulties that people in Artsakh face is the lack of job opportunities. After completing her studies in Yerevan, she intends on returning and is hoping that she will be able to find employment to lessen her mother's burden. "I think there are things that I need to do there," she says.

And what is her hope for the future? The answer is very simple. She doesn't want war. "It's enough. We are now in a stage of rebirth, which makes me very happy," Arminé says.

Every new building, every new tree that is planted, every road that is repaired causes her to swell with pride and happiness.

"I am sure that one day, the international community will open its eyes and understand that we have built our state in accordance with all international laws and we have nothing left to sacrifice. All we have done is to liberate a small portion of our lands that were unjustly taken from us," she says.

This year as we celebrate the New Year and Christmas with our loved ones, let's take a moment to put aside our differences, whether political or economic, and remember that we have so much to be thankful for and proud about. 2009 was a difficult year for the Armenian nation; from protests to protocols, to economic instability and divisions, we have much to overcome.

The Arminés of the world help put things into perspective. They help us to see the forest for the trees and see that there is hope for the future. The children of the Artsakh war will never forget. We shall never forget but we must also pave the way for a new collective awakening, a rebirth of the notion of people, nation, and statehood. We owe it to Arminé of Artsakh and all those children who saw and lived it alongside her.