Armenian politicians divided on dual citizenship bill

Arminfo, Yerevan
22 Feb 07

Introducing dual citizenship in Armenia might considerably increase
the risk of election fraud, Arminfo news agency quoted ex-Foreign
Minister Aleksander Arzumanyan as saying on 22 February.

"If votes are rigged so easily in Armenia it is not hard to imagine
what opportunities will open up for the authorities when our
compatriots from abroad receive the right to vote," Arzumanyan said.

Orinats Yerkir (Law-Governed Country) Party leader Artur Baghdasaryan
has said he supports dual citizenship but has reservations in that
respect. Dual citizens should not have the right to vote or be elected
as MPs or president of the country, Arminfo quoted Baghdasaryan as
saying.

Armen Rustamyan, MP from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation –
Dashnaktsutyun, believes that the lack of dual citizenship has
prevented Armenia from using to the full the potential of the Armenian
communities abroad. "Presently, when this institution is introduced,
Armenia will be able to fully use the potential of the diaspora,"
Rustamyan said.

Armenian parliament passed a bill introducing changes and additions to
the law about dual citizenship in its first reading on 21 February.

The bill supposes granting dual citizenship to three categories of
people. These are the citizens of other countries who have lived in
Armenia for three years and speak Armenian, those who married an
Armenian, and the people who had been citizens of Armenia before.

Armenia is to vote for a new parliament on 12 May.