Armenians in the Czech Republic

ethnic group
group=Czech Armenians


poptime=12,000 [http://www.agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=35 Armenian General Benevolent Union - Publications ] ]
rels=Christianity
langs=Armenian, Russian, Czech
related=Armenians, Czechs

Armenians in the Czech Republic are ethnic Armenians living in the modern Czech Republic. The current Armenian population is unofficially estimated as being around 12,000. [http://www.agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=35 Armenian General Benevolent Union - Publications ] ]

History

Unlike Armenian communities throughout eastern and central Europe, the Armenian community of the Czech republic is made up entirely of recent immigrants, as there are no previous history of Armenian communities in the region. Most have come to the region after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, others fleeing poor economic conditions in the Armenian Republic.

The Armenian Community in the Czech Republic is still growing, as signified with the opening of an Armenian Saturday school in Prague in 1996, the establishment of an Armenian Cultural Center and the later establishment of the "Orer" (Օրեր) newspaper, edited by Hagop Assadrian, a former journalist for the "Azg" (Ազգ) paper in Yerevan who moved to Prague around 1998.

It is believed Armenians may have trouble acclimating to this country, as citizenship requires you to undergo a rigorous registration process, rather than becoming a citizen at birth.

On April 3 and 4 of 2006, Armenian Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian visited the Czech Republic, meeting with Jaroslav Bašta, the 1st Deputy Foreign Minister of the country, Jaromír Plíšek, Director General of the Territorial Section, and a representative of the local Armenian community. [ [http://www.armeniaforeignministry.com/pr_06/060405_kirakosian_chech.html Deputy Minister Kirakossian Visits Czech Republic ] ] Topics of discussion included trade and inter-parliamentary links.

Language

Armenian migrants freely speak the Russian language which was a subject needed at Czech schools until the end of the 1980’s this has had some impact on the language integration of the Armenian community. The knowledge of Russian may make it easier for Armenians to communicate with locals, and those of the older generation. [Czech Armenians: A Small Community With a Strong Potential - Sergey Sumlenny, p. 84.]

"Level of Armenian migrants’ knowledge of the Czech language"

ee also

*Armenian diaspora

References