IN GRIGOR GHONJEYAN’S WORDS, ULP VOTED AGAINST BILL ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP NOT DUE TO BEING AFRAID OF ARFD’S STRENGTHENING ITS POSITIONS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 21 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labor Party (ULP) NA
faction voted against the bill On Dual Citizenship due to rejection
of two basic principles. Faction member Grigor Ghonjeyan reported
this at the February 21 dispute.
In his words, "both deputies having primary mandate and those holding
posts of prime minister and government member cannot have citizenship
of another country." ULP’s second requirement of principle is that if
the prime minister or government member is granted dual citizenship
during his tenure, he is to resign.
G. Ghonjeyan said that lately ARFD faction leader Hrayr Karapetian has
reported on TV that some political forces speak against adoption of
dual citizenship being afraid of increase of ARFD’s influence in case
of this institution’s establishment. However, in G. Ghonjeyan’s words,
strengthening of ARFD’s positions was not the reason for ULP’s decision
to vote against the bill. "We just wish those having primary mandates
to stand on the earth of their native land firmly, with two feet,"
ULP faction member added.
In the opinion of another participant of the dispute, Hovhannes
Igitian, Board member of Armenian National Movement (ANM) Party, it is
not clear yet what impact the adoption of the law On Dual Citizenship
will have on Armenians living in Armenia. In his words, "with this law
we consolidate the Armenians of Diaspora, but meanwhile split Armenia."