ONLY ARFD IS GOING TO VOTE FOR VARIANT OF PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO LAW "ON RA CITIZENSHIP" SUBMITTED FOR SECOND READING

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 22 special sitting
RA National Assembly finished discussion of draft package of amendmends
and additions to the law "On RA Citizenship" and to a number of other
laws in second reading. In all probability, voting will take place
on February 23.

Hrayr Karapetian, the head of the only faction which called for voting
for the package, ARFD, in his speech said that the National Assembly
of current convocation will remain in the history of Armenian people in
connection with adoption of constitutional amendments and introduction
of the institution of dual citizenship. In his words, the approach
of ARFD anxious about the fate of the whole Armenian people is the
following: stipulation of dual citizenship is an attempt to consolidate
the efforts of all Armenians in favor of Armenia’s strengthening. Gagik
Minasian, a member of RPA faction, said that during the discussions no
one spoke against introduction of the institution of dual citizenship
and the main concern is conditioned by the necessity to balance
dual citizens’ rights and obligations. On behalf of the faction he
once more affirmed that dual citizens should be given the right to
vote during the elections only if at least in one out of five years
preceding the elections they had a status of resident in accordance
with the law "On RA Income Tax." This means that at least 183 days
during 12 months a person should be in Armenia and should have family
and vital interests in Armenia. As the MP affirmed, a voter should
feel on his back the influence of the power elected by him. In his
words, there is no reason for rejecting this proposal of the faction
by the government. Gurgen Arsenian, the leader of ULP faction, said
that ULP respects ARFD’s opinion, but does not share it. ULP affirms
that a government head or member cannot be citizens of another country
besides Armenia. G. Arsenian declared that the above mentioned posts
are political and if the government again rejects their proposal on
determining such prohibition, the faction will vote against as it had
voted during the first reading. Grigor Haroutiunian, the Secretary
of Ardarutiun (Justice) faction, also declared that attaching
importance to the institution of dual citizenship, nevertheless,
the faction cannot be for the draft’s current variant. He said that
the draft revised on the basis of RPA’s and ULP’s proposals can be
acceptable for the faction. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian also said
that the people who did not leave the homeland in these years and
stayed in Armenia suffering hardship are worthy of special respect
and attitude, which can be stipulated by the law. In his words,
the vote decides the country’s fate, which should be chosen by the
people permanently living in the country. He gave assurance that the
prevailing majority of Diasporan Armenians realizes that the appraoch
should be differentiated.