About 200 families return to Artsakh for their holidays.

Following the Karabakh War, thousands of Armenians fled the country, most for Russia. The 1994 Russian-brokered ceasefire brought a tenuous peace to the region, yet for the multitudes that left, return has not been desirable or possible.

The Artsakh Compatriot Union (ACU) this year planned a sort of homecoming for some of those who had left.

According to Artsakh Press, almost 200 families arrived in Karabakh on June 20, heeding the call of the ACU for Armenian families, especially those whose roots are in Karabakh, to spend their summer holidays in Artsakh.

Greeting them at the border of Armenia-Artsakh was Prime Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Ara Harutyunyan and representatives of a number of youth organizations, who had prepared large signs and offered the traditional bread and salt for the homecoming.

Prime Minister Harutyunyan expressed his gratitude to the Artsakh Compatriot Union and its President Varujan Grigoryan, for organizing the trip. He said that this initiative was significant not only for those living in Artsakh but for all those who had left. “This is an opportunity, first of all, for each Armenian of Artsakh to come once a year to Artsakh and live with their compatriots,” Harutyunyan said. “Allow your children and grandchildren to connect with their fatherland so that they don’t lose their identity and by doing so, you will greatly contribute to the flourishing of Artsakh.”

The President of the Artsakh Compatriot Union, Varujan Grigoryan said, “I am very happy and excited that so many people heeded our call,” and added that this will not be a one time project. “This is a very big patriotic step and I think that every Armenian should spend at least a week of their holidays on their native soil.” According to Grigoryan, this initiative has four purposes - patriotism, economic growth, resettlement/repatriation and ensuring security.

One of the participants of the trip is Karine Danielyan, originally from the village of Chapar in the region of Martakert. Danielyan, who has been living in Rostov, Russia for the past 24 years said, “Every year we spend one month in our fatherland; it soothes our hearts and helps ease the longing for our native soil.