Russia has been trying to lure the 800,000 Armenians living abroad to settle in Soviet Armenia. Some 60,000 heeded the call last year. Russian recruiting agents in the Middle East promise returning Armenians big loans (up to 30,000 rubles), a house and a job. By year's end, Russia expects that more than 100,000 Armenians will have emigrated.
Last week 1,700 were on their way from Egypt, aboard the Russian ship Pobeda (Victory). Most of them carried the picture of Mother Araxi, without which few fervent Armenians like to undertake journeys.*
Armenians have found it easier to get into Russia than to...
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