the repatriates’ transportation costs and their expenses upon arrival in Armenia; help for needy repatriate families wishing to build their own homes in Armenia; supplies and equipment for production units, health-care establishments, and maternity wards; furniture; and, finally, clothing, shoes, and other such consumer goods.78 Léon Guerdan was named president of the fund-raising committee that the AGBU proceeded to set up; Mihran Karagheusian and Yervant Mesiayan acted, respectively, as its treasurer and secretary. The results achieved by the committee were better than anyone had dared hope: from April 1946 to June 1947, the Union collected $1,413,041, all of it earmarked for the “repatriation” scheme. Of this total, $1,073,809 was raised in the United States, Canada, and South America.79
The actual “nerkaght” to Armenia began in May 1946, in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. In each of these countries, “repatriation” committees were formed. Read all
Repatriates from Upper Jazirah are welcomed in Beirut before their transfer to Armenia (Arch. B. Nubar/Paris).
THE "NERKAGHT" TO ARMENIA AND THE AGBU'S COMMITMENT
On 25 December 1945, the AGBU’s Central Board received an official letter from P. Astvatzatrian, the president of the “Committee for the Reception and Resettlement of Repatriated Diasporan Armenians.” The letter informed the AGBU that the “repatriation” was about to begin, and solicited its cooperation in carrying it out. In February 1946, the AGBU decided to launch a big campaign with a one-million-dollar goal in order to finance the “nerkaght” to Armenia. Yerevan’s representatives asked that it focus its aid on
Repatriates from Iran en route for Armenia (Arch. B. Nubar/Paris).
“Repatriation”and AGBU’s Cooperation with Soviet Armenia