OSKANIAN BACKS DUAL CITIZENSHIP FOR ETHNIC ARMENIANS
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
September 4, 2006 Monday 5:41 PM MSK
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian favors dual citizenship
for all members of the Armenian diaspora.
In Oskanian’s opinion, all ethnic Armenians should be granted dual
citizenship.
"The problem requires a balanced approach making it possible not to
deprive members of the Armenian diaspora of the opportunity to obtain
citizenship, while on the other hand, avoiding the negative impact
of dual citizenship on Armenia’s national interests," the minister
told reporters on Monday ahead of parliamentary debates on the issue.
About the upcoming "Armenia – Diaspora" forum to be held in Yerevan
on September 18, Oskanian noted that more than 1,500 organizations
and individuals had been registered for participation in the event.
The forum will consist of three parts: a plenary meeting with
the country’s president, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
all Armenians and prominent figures of the Armenian diaspora due to
address the audience; discussion about how Armenia and the Armenian
diaspora can unite their efforts to assist in upgrading infrastructure
in Armenia’s rural areas; and also, discussion about the role and
place of Armenians in the 21st century.
Problems facing Armenians in the Dzhavakhetia, an Armenian-populated
district of Georgia, may also be discussed during the forum,
Oskanian said.
Although this is an internal matter for Georgia, "Armenia cannot
remain indifferent to the fate of its compatriots," the minister said.
From: Baghdasarian