KASHATAGH, Nagorno-Karabakh – Talk of returning the liberated territories to Azerbaijan has been the major obstacle hindering the revitalization and resettlement of those territories. The territory that falls between the Soviet-era Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and the Republic of Armenia is historically Armenian territory. The fertile valleys that fall between the historic provinces of Siunik and Artsakh, between the Aghavn, Hakar, and Vorotan Rivers, were cleared of Armenian residents in the last 200 years; other villages, such as Hak and Alghuli, had been populated by Armenians until 1918.

Aygehovit is one of the Hakar valley’s partly restored and resettled villages. According to Zorik Hovhannisian, the head of the village, this valley and Aygehovit are among the most beautiful places in the world. Even though he was born in Stepanavan, in Armenia’s Lori province, he has lived and worked in Artik for many years. The head of the village says that talk of returning the territories affects the residents psychologically.

“After living with no electricity for six years, we finally have it,” he said. “The Tufenkian Foundation has started implementing some humanitarian projects and the government of Nagorno-Karabakh is lending small sums of money to the villagers at zero interest; however, this is too little for the restoration and resettlement of these territories,” Mr. Hovhannisian added. The head of the village is convinced that something must be done to make people feel respected on this land and not feel like creatures begging for help. “In other words, they must give people the opportunity to work and live with dignity. They must know that this land belongs to them. Nothing else is needed; a man will create the rest with his own hands,” he said.

Antranig Kasbarian, director of the Tufenkian Foundation’s Nagorno-Karabakh Office, agrees that first of all the employment issue must be resolved in the liberated territories. It is impossible to keep people on those lands even if you construct good housing for them.

“The main reason behind the emigration from the Kashatagh region from 2000 to 2007 was unemployment,” Mr. Kasbarian told the Armenian Reporter. “Our foundation has started restoring about 40 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Aygehovit and Urekan.”

Aygehovit was established in 1997 and currently has 160 residents. Mr. Hovhannissian confirmed that since 2002, some of the residents had left the village. People do not feel as though the land needs them or that the land is important in general.

“However, I do not think about those who leave,” he said. “Maybe they left because they were unable to live and adapt here or maybe the situation in their former settlements has improved. The most important thing is that new families are being formed in the village and the local youth are getting married and having children. At the same time, they continually ask, ‘What future will my child have living like this?’ The principal issue must be the resettlement of these lands. It is not right to only partly resettle. The enemy thinks, ‘Why aren’t the Armenians resettling the territories? Because it does not belong to them,’” Mr. Hovhannisian said.

He said that if they had permanently settled residents, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to return liberated lands to Azerbaijan. People in these liberated areas no longer beg for help. They demand an opportunity to live and work in dignity.

American-Armenian benefactor James Tufenkian, working with the Karabakh government, organized a conference in Berdzor (Lachin) six months ago (See Armenian Reporter, April 5). The objective of the conference was to draw attention to the liberated territories and at the same time attract diaspora investment for the revitalization and resettlement of those territories.

According to Mr. Kasbarian, some promises of investments have already been given. The establishment of a winery, which will use local crops, is one of their priorities.

This year, even though the climate was not favorable, about 80 tons of grapes were gathered from the Tufenkian vineyards. The residents of Aygehovit also grow grapes. They complain that the wineries of Hadrut or Karmir Shuka bought their grapes for only 110 drams per kilogram. Besides that, transporting the grapes from Aygehovit is expensive, as a result of which viniculture is not profitable.

Besides alleviating the worries of the villagers, the establishment of a winery in Aygehovit or its surrounding villages would also help encourage the planting of new

vineyards. When the Tufenkian Foundation constructed a flour mill in Aygehovit in 2005, the residents of all the surrounding villages found it easier to sell their wheat or

simply turn their wheat into bread at the mill. When the foundation built a health center in neighboring Ishkhanadzor village, it was a blessing for the residents of all the surrounding villages; the closest health centers were in Berdzor, Goris, and Kapan, each of which is about 40 miles away from Ishkhanadzor. The Hakar River valley can produce a bountiful harvest, but lands need to be cared for and should not be treated merely as a security zone or liberated territories, but as a homeland, which belongs to Armenians.

I toured the fertile Hakar River valley for a day with the Tufenkian Foundation’s driver Michael, in his Niva. During our drive back, he suggested that I should try the Hakari fish. Romik, he said, is the best fisher around. He moved to Aygehovit from Ashtarak four years ago.

Besides being a good fisher, Romik is also a hardworking Armenian and a caring parent. He has managed to plant fruit trees on more then 2 hectares of land. Truly, Hakar’s fish had an incomparable flavor. Fish from rivers is tasty, especially when the waters flow from the ice-cold springs of the mountains of Armenia.

Armenian Reporter map of Kashatagh by Grigor Beglaryan © 2008.
Medical center in Ishkhanadzor. Photo: Tatul Hakobyan for the Armenian Reporter