Narine Mikaelyan: Tolerance - Our Way of Life

• 07.24.2015, 10:11
•  Diaspora,  Interview

Armedia" IAA presents an exclusive interview with Narine Mikaelyan, Chairman of the Armenian Cultural Center "Luis" (Almaty).The Interview was conducted during the "5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions" in Astana in the framework of "Armenia-Kazakhstan: Cooperation Platforms" project, with the support of Embassy of Kazakhstan in Armenia.

- Will you, please, tell us about the Armenian community in Almaty. How many Armenians are there and what do they generally do?

- It is a long time Armenians are living in Kazakhstan. There are those who have moved here, and there are also those born here. Armenian Cultural Center was created in the 1990s. Most of the Armenians are living in Almaty. Armenian Cultural Center is visited by about 500 people – they participate in different events, do into the church, to dancing lessons in the Armenian Sunday school.

Interestingly, our center is visited not only by Armenians. We have a dance group "Nairi", which involve children of different nationalities. They dance Armenian dances, and they like here: they sew costumes, take part in various events. In general, our doors are always open for everyone! By the way, the Sunday school is also attended by representatives of other nationalities, who learn Armenian here.

- What is the history of the Armenian community in Almaty?

- Armenians came here mainly during the repression of the 1930s. Most of the Armenians live in "Armenian House" region - Armenian cultural center of Almaty. This area is even with joke called "Armenian town". Z. Albert Poghosyan - the first Armenian who was born in Almaty, is an honorary member of the board of our Center.

- How closely do you keep in touch with Armenian communities of other cities of Kazakhstan?

- In almost every city in Kazakhstan there are Armenian cultural centers, and they are all united in the association, which is headed by Artush Karapetyan - Chairman of the Armenians in Kazakhstan. Almaty will soon host a forum on the 20th anniversary of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan (APK), which will also be attended by Armenians from other cities.

The Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan Yerlan Tugzhanov will reward our Armenian activists medals in honor of the 20th anniversary of the ANC. In general, at least twice a year, we, Armenians, come together in a city and hold Congress of the Armenians of Kazakhstan – the meetings last 2-3 days, we meet with the mayor of that city, go to the "House of Friendship", take part in purely Armenian events.

- Kazakhstan attaches great importance to tolerance and peaceful coexistence of different nationalities. How imuch s this reality here? 

- We even do not talk about tolerance, since this is our way of life. There is no way we are divided into nationalities - we live as one big family. We know the traditions and customs of other nations, by communicating with them, we enrich. And there is no sense of sharing something, because all of us live in the same conditions. There is really very good attitude towards Armenians.