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Russia's eased citizenship rules and likely impact on Armenia - opinions
15:30 * 15.03.14
Armenia without Armenians is, as a matter of fact, a program
implemented by the Armenian authorities not by Russia, says the head a
Gyumri-based NGO.
Speaking to Tert.am, President of Shirak Center Vahan Tumasyan said he
doesn't think the proposedamendments to the Russian citizenship law
are likely to be serious challenge for the second largest city which
has already seen a major demographic decline.
"By and large, I don't think it will be emptied at more rapid paces.
As a city that suffered from the earthquake, losing housing resources
and economy, Gyumri has emptied itself in all possible ways," he
noted.
The bill, which is now on the Russian parliament's agenda, envisages
facilitated citizenship procedures for former Soviet citizens knowing
Russian. Under the proposed amendments, those people will be granted
citizenship within three months of residence in Russia.
Commenting on the bill, the political analyst Levon Shirinyan said he
believes it will deepen the demographic crisis in Armenia if adopted.
He said it is likely to filter the employable and educated classes
which still remain in Armenia.
"Don't you feel sure that the commission will select them - the
beautiful, the strong and those with a professional qualification,
rejecting the rest who will turn out drug-addicts or criminals," he
noted.
Shirinyan said the Armenian authorities have to take urgent measures
to prevent an exodus.
According to Khosrov Harutyunyan, the Christian-Democratic Party's
chief and a lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, the
authorities have to work towards enhancing the population's living
standards instead of thinking of restrictive measures.
"For us at least, that has to be the issue. Suppose we facilitate or
impede [the process], what will be the use?" he added.
Asked whether the statement implies that he admits the authorities
failure to ensure better living standards, Harutyunyan replied, "We
all say there is migration, and we can really say that we do not have
visible success. The arrival-departure balance is lower, but I don't
think it is an important achievement," he said, adding that the
migration of as many as 5,000 people a big challenge for a small
country like Armenia.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/03/15/Russia-new-bill/
From: A. Papazian
15:30 * 15.03.14
Armenia without Armenians is, as a matter of fact, a program
implemented by the Armenian authorities not by Russia, says the head a
Gyumri-based NGO.
Speaking to Tert.am, President of Shirak Center Vahan Tumasyan said he
doesn't think the proposedamendments to the Russian citizenship law
are likely to be serious challenge for the second largest city which
has already seen a major demographic decline.
"By and large, I don't think it will be emptied at more rapid paces.
As a city that suffered from the earthquake, losing housing resources
and economy, Gyumri has emptied itself in all possible ways," he
noted.
The bill, which is now on the Russian parliament's agenda, envisages
facilitated citizenship procedures for former Soviet citizens knowing
Russian. Under the proposed amendments, those people will be granted
citizenship within three months of residence in Russia.
Commenting on the bill, the political analyst Levon Shirinyan said he
believes it will deepen the demographic crisis in Armenia if adopted.
He said it is likely to filter the employable and educated classes
which still remain in Armenia.
"Don't you feel sure that the commission will select them - the
beautiful, the strong and those with a professional qualification,
rejecting the rest who will turn out drug-addicts or criminals," he
noted.
Shirinyan said the Armenian authorities have to take urgent measures
to prevent an exodus.
According to Khosrov Harutyunyan, the Christian-Democratic Party's
chief and a lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, the
authorities have to work towards enhancing the population's living
standards instead of thinking of restrictive measures.
"For us at least, that has to be the issue. Suppose we facilitate or
impede [the process], what will be the use?" he added.
Asked whether the statement implies that he admits the authorities
failure to ensure better living standards, Harutyunyan replied, "We
all say there is migration, and we can really say that we do not have
visible success. The arrival-departure balance is lower, but I don't
think it is an important achievement," he said, adding that the
migration of as many as 5,000 people a big challenge for a small
country like Armenia.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/03/15/Russia-new-bill/
From: A. Papazian