FOR THE SAKE OF ARMENIA?
Aram Zakaryan

Lragir.am
27 June 06

The Dashnaktsutiun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) faction
has worked out a conception of dual nationality and offered for
discussion. In the ARF they think that "dual nationality is a
unilateral obligation of Armenia to make Armenia the spiritual
homeland of all Armenians and foster repatriation." How is Armenia
going to assume unilateral obligation to solve a problem, which
refers to at least two countries. What if no other country adopts dual
nationality? By the way, the world tends to reject dual nationality,
restrict the rights of dual citizens. The representatives of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation admit this.

In other words, the countries, which tasted dual nationality, did
not like it very much. And the ARF conception does not explain why
we are reluctant to learn from others’ mistakes and experience and
are trying to repeat the useless way the passed.

The ARF suggest granting citizenship of Armenia to people who will
offer proof of their Armenian origin. It is clear that there should be
some agency, which will check the Armenian origin, and it is possible
that some people will get a refusal. Hence, in countries with a large
Armenian community groups if not crowds of people who have a grudge
against Armenia will appear, which is not desirable with the currently
complicated relations within the Armenian Diaspora and with Armenia.

The ARF conception suggests that dual citizens must participate in the
defense of the Republic of Armenia as set down in the law and pay taxes
in the country where the source of their income and the most part of
property is. In other words, in Armenia men under age 27 or 35 are
drafted, and if one is not drafted without violating the law, they
will have no problems. Now imagine a great number of Dashnaktsutiun
members, who were born and lived abroad until age 27 or 35, become
citizens of Armenia and buy less property than they have abroad and
live on the income they earn abroad, they will have the same rights as
each of us, who survived the cold and dark days of economic crisis,
with a low income and quality of life, resulting from corruption and
protectionism, potential victims of street shootings. They will have
political rights as well, because although they know in the ARF that
in countries with dual nationality eligibility stipulates a period of
permanent residence in that country, they suggest in the conception,
that "in conformity with the renewed Constitution of Armenia there is
no restriction of the right to vote, therefore people who will get dual
nationality in Armenia will fulfill their right to vote." The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation suggests conducting universal elections in
the territory of the Republic of Armenia only. We should agree that
for a political party such as the ARF it is as easy for a dual citizen
member of the ARF to arrive in homeland for a day as to piss.

We learn from the conception of the ARF that in a globalizing world
the countries are likely to introduce the notion of a world citizen.

It should be noted, however, that this is not done through dual
nationality. Again the ARF admits it. Only 54 out of 191 countries
of the UN adopted dual nationality. Some of these countries allow
only elements of dual nationality. Now everyone is going in for
restrictions. Our strategic partner Russia does not allow a dual
citizen to occupy high posts. Our key partner United States does not
allow its citizens to become subjects of other another country. And
if the globalizing world is establishing a "citizen of the world",
it is achieved by opening borders, providing more opportunities and
cooperation with neighbors. Here is a path where the ARF principle of
genetic incompatibility is devoid of any sense and dual nationality
desired by the ARF has a tertiary role. For instance, the European
Union. First they created a common market and economy, provided new
opportunities of economic development, only then they are trying to
adopt EU citizenship. In addition, they are not in a hurry. It is
not essential to welfare.