Azernews.Az

YEREVAN - Nearly half of Armenian citizens would like to leave their country, says a poll conducted by US Gallup group in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The number of people in Armenia seeking to emigrate or at least obtain temporary employment and looking to study abroad exceeds that of polled citizens in other CIS states. Thus, 39 percent of Armenians want to move abroad without returning and 44 percent would like to work in foreign countries.

Armenia has a more numerous diaspora abroad than its neighbors. Presumably, more Armenians presently reside abroad than in Armenia itself.

The South Caucasus republic is followed by Moldova. 36 pct of Moldovans said they would leave their country immediately if an opportunity presents itself. High unemployment rate and utmost dependence on money sent by their relatives from abroad prompts Moldovan citizens to seek moving to other countries, with one member of almost every family in this country saying he or she works abroad.

54 pct of respondents in Moldova, 32 pct of those in Armenia and 30 pct of those polled in Belarus said that, if they move, they could rely on assistance from their loved ones abroad and that they have been receiving money or other assistance from their family members in the past year.

As for South Caucasus republics other than Armenia, the pollsters found that in neighboring Georgia, 14 pct of the people want to leave the country for good. 34 pct of respondents there said they would like to work abroad. In Azerbaijan, the figures are 12 pct and 24 pct respectively.

In the region stretching from the Caucasus to Central Asia, respondents preferred to study or work abroad rather than emigrate to other countries, saying they did not want to leave their home countries just for the sake of food and making money. Thus, two-thirds of the people polled in those countries said they did not want to move abroad permanently. Most of respondents noted that after having improved their work experience they would return home.

Overall, 70 million of people in CIS are seeking to travel abroad to study or work, with half of them seeking to emigrate, Gallup concluded.

The poll of 13,200 people was conducted in 2009 among respondents aged above 15. At least 1,000 people from each of the regional countries were polled.

MIGRATION AMBITIONS IN CIS STATES

Armenia
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 44%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 39%
People seeking emigration - 39%

Moldova
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 53%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 30%
People seeking emigration - 36%

Belarus
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 35%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 32%
People seeking emigration - 20%

Kyrgyzstan
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 34%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 32%
People seeking emigration - 18%

Kazakhstan
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 30%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 32%
People seeking emigration - 15%

Ukraine
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 21%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 20%
People seeking emigration - 15%

Georgia*
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 34%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 31%
People seeking emigration - 14%

Azerbaijan
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 24%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 19%
People seeking emigration - 12%

RussiaPeople seeking temporary jobs abroad - 22%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 24%
People seeking emigration - 11%

Tajikistan
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 28%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 25%
People seeking emigration - 9%

Uzbekistan
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 24%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 30%
People seeking emigration - 6%

Turkmenistan*
People seeking temporary jobs abroad - 19%
People seeking temporary jobs or to study abroad - 24%
People seeking emigration - 5%

*Georgia has already pulled out of CIS.
*Turkmenistan is an associate member of CIS.