There are immigrants from Armenia in Arakyul village of Hadrut region. One of them is Vachagan Mkrtchian. During the war Vachagan has participated in the liberation of Hadrut and Martakert. Being born in Yerevan and a generation of Vaners he has no relations in Karabagh: He says he has liked the nature of Karabagh very much and decided to come and live in Arakyul because it is a frontier village and it should be populated.

At first Vachagan's wife was against his brave decision but after a year joined him. Now they both work at the village school. Vachagan is a teacher of History and Geography and his wife teaches Mathematics. “Apart from it, we are engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding,” says he.

Arakyul has many problems to solve but, in his opinion, the main one is the job problem. “Look, we have no water. Someone comes and says he will solve that problem. Let's assume, we already have water but other problems such as housing, communication with the regional center and others remain unsolved,” says Vachagan Mkrtchian with conviction that creation of jobs is the most important problem. “When they try to reduce unemployment, it will become clear that the water problem must be solved, the agricultural machinery must be available, the villagers must be granted soft and long-term loans, and all these must be done through well-considered programs.

He believes that the peasant having a job will solve his problems himself. He is surprised to learn that someone has applied to the government to repair his house. “It's not normal when you ask the government for the glass of your windows, is it? But if they don't work and have no income, what can they do? If he had a job, he could certainly afford to buy that glass himself.”

The natural climatic conditions in Arakyul village and in Hadrut Region in general are quite favorable for any agricultural initiative. “We could cultivate 5 hectares of cereals but are doing only 2 because we are unable to do more.”

In the result of occupation Arakyul was deprived of agricultural machinery it used to have during the soviet years. Azerbaijani have carried everything away. Now the villagers are compelled to ask the neighboring villages for the machinery but they can give it only after they have finished their own work. “Very often it is too late and already useless to plough,” says Vachagan.

If the machinery and water are available, the agriculture can be quickly developed. “There are countries receiving crop from the desert while we sit in poor on our fertile lands. In this century we hope on rain to fall and water our fields. No rain and everything is lost ”

And even in these conditions Vachagan Mkrtchian isn't disappointed and tries to get the most by overcoming great difficulties. “The life goes on and we can't condemn ourselves to idleness and complain all the time that we haven't got this or that. We are trying to do something.”

When Vachagan came to the village five years ago, he had only one cow. Now, together with already sold ones he has more than 20 of them. It's not a success for Vachagan but evidence that one can live here and, if well-assisted, can even expand and prosper.

Translated by Armine Ghazaryan, Karine Miletbashyan