Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

[crusader1492]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Your welcome. I'm glad you are finally understanding the difficult concept that things have evolved in Armenian and now they have dual citizenship.

Bravo!

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Crusader, the only thing I am beginning to understand on this issue is, is that you are still in left field and also that your ability to read in between the lines is just as poor as your ability to read. Good show, you dumb bloke!

[crusader1492]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Crusader, the only thing I am beginning to understand on this issue is, is that you are still in left field and also that your ability to read in between the lines is just as poor as your ability to read. Good show, you dumb bloke!

What, are you trying to act like you're a British aristocrat now? You're from Watertown, MA!

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

I strongly believe that absolutely every ethnic Armenian in the world has a right to reside in Armenia but residing is one thing becoming a citizen is another. This current law on dual citizenship is an absolute joke, it's a short sighted political move that undermines our national security. This law must be changed and I'm sure it will be changed.

Permanent Residency Visa/Passport should be given to any Armenian upon the approval of his/her application, which must be changed as well because the current 2 page form is silly, you have to provide more information to open a bank account than to become a PR of Armenia.

Only a Permanent Resident with 5 years of uninterrupted residency in Armenia should be allowed to apply for the Armenian Citizenship. The citizenship application must be very detailed and its processing time should be at least one year in order to gather all the necessary information and to determine whether the person should be granted the citizenship or not. A panel consisting of the senior members of the Ministry of National Security will decide the fate of the application and if they decide that it should be granted then they will advise the President who in his turn will simply sign the letter. If the panel decides that he person shoud not be granted then that's it. Of course the person will have the right to appeal to the High Court but only the Hight Court and the lawyers will see the evidence based on which the application was rejected.

Reasons for rejections? The Character Grounds are the number one reason and there are many who will not pass the Character Test. There are many Disapora Armenians who either worked in the past or are still working for foreign interests, granting people like that the Armenian Citizenship is not just crazy and very wrong, it's criminal and it's an act of treason.

I'm sorry if I upset the honest, dedicated and patriotic Diaspora Armenians, I got nothing against them, but they have to understand that these precautions are justified because among that very diverse mass of our people around the world are some who work for foreign governments and we should never allow them to infiltrate into our country, to be a citizen of our country and to damage our national security.

[Armenian]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

I agree with Amrotz, providing diasporan Armenians dual citizenship is a long term national security threat for the republic. At the very least, the application process for obtaining it should be made difficult.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Under the current law, if all prospective dual citizens of Armenian ethnicity must be permanent residents of the RA in order to qualify, then how did Harut Sassounian obtain dual citizenship when, and, while, he resides in Southern California??

Something is very fishy, here.

[crusader1492]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Something is very fishy, here.

Perhaps you should close your legs.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Local Publisher Becomes First to Receive Dual-Citizenship to Armenia

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

GLENDALE--A recent visit to Armenia by Lincy Foundation Vice-President and the Publisher of the Glendale-based California Courier had more in store for him than a busy schedule of meetings and appearances. While in Armenia, Harut Sassounian became a citizen of Armenia--one of the first to receive dual-citizenship under a new law ratified in February 2007.
Sassounian, who is also the Executive Director of the United Armenia Fund, has traveled to Armenia countless times since 1989. This last visit, however, was very special.
“I knew about the law,” Sassounian said, “but I didn't know that the government has started enacting it.”
After hearing that, in fact, mechanisms were in place for this process, Sassounian decided to apply in Armenia.
He explained that the process required the completion of a lengthy application, background checks, medical forms and other information. Before the completion of his trip, he was granted citizenship, perhaps becoming the first Diasporan-Armenian to receive citizenship based on this new law.
Sassounian explained that this was not the traditional “10-year” residency that is granted or sometimes bestowed to by government official. “I am a full-fledged citizen,” he explained.
On February 26, 2007, the Armenian parliament overwhelmingly approved the bill on dual citizenship, which allows members of the Diaspora to hold citizenship.
An announcement issued Wednesday by Armenia's Consulate General in Los Angeles indicated that Armenian embassies and consular mission were not accepting applications for dual-citizenship.
Armenia's Consul General in Los Angeles, Armen Liloyan, told Asbarez that no one had yet applied for dual citizenship in Los Angeles, adding that now that the processes and mechanisms for that application have been directed to the consular offices, he welcomed all Diasporans to take advantage of this provision.
Armenia's Ambassador to the US, Tatul Markarian, echoed Liloyan's statements and added that no one has yet received dual citizenship, effectively making Sassounian the first Diasporan to receive dual-citizenship.
Liloyan explained that he and others in the Consulate will be making the rounds on various Armenian television programs to promote dual-citizenship and answer the public's questions about the process.
He also explained that this provision is mainly for Diaspora Armenians, adding that former Armenian citizens who are living in the Diaspora can apply for re-instatement of their citizenship, which he said was a simple logistical process.
The dual-citizenship law stipulates that people of Armenian descent over the age of 18 can apply for Armenian citizenship and must have a three-year permanent residency in the country.
The applicant must be able to speak Armenian and have familiarity with the country's constitution. Citizenship may be granted to couples, where one of the spouses or their children is citizens of Armenia.
The bill denies Armenian citizenship to people whose activity may damage the country's national interests. Dual citizenship law allows for participation in the elections, with proof of residency. However, dual citizens cannot seek elected office. Dual citizens may hold ministerial posts, but cannot run for parliament or president.
People with dual citizenship may serve in the Armenian army, but they are exempt from it if they have served 12 months in the armed forces of the country of their primary citizenship or 18 months as alternative military service. It also says citizens of Armenia who have received a second citizenship would not be exempt from mandatory service in the Armenian armed forces.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which was the main proponent of the right to dual nationality, welcomed the adoption of the bill and on that day its deputies celebrated it with an improvised reception promptly held in their parliament offices.
"This law is an opportunity to consolidate our nation," then ARF faction member Ruben Hovsepian, said. "This legislation will allow Armenian living in different countries to consider themselves full-fledged citizens of Armenia," he said.
Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian also has welcomed this provision.
In an interview with the Tehran-based Huys newspaper in October, Oskanian stressed that dual citizenship will allow the dispersed Armenian population around the world to strengthen its ties with the homeland.
Oskanian said dual citizenship would allow Armenia to strengthen its resources and maintain its position in the ever-evolving world.
“One part of our new resources will come from Armenia and the other part from the Diaspora,” added Oskanian.



Friday, March 28, 2008

The article cleary confirms that Sassounian received dual citizenship while visiting the RA. Hence, he was not a permanent resident when he obtained dual citizenship and received dual citizenship contrary to the newly enacted law.

[Neli]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

Local Publisher Becomes First to Receive Dual-Citizenship to Armenia

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

GLENDALE--A recent visit to Armenia by Lincy Foundation Vice-President and the Publisher of the Glendale-based California Courier had more in store for him than a busy schedule of meetings and appearances. While in Armenia, Harut Sassounian became a citizen of Armenia--one of the first to receive dual-citizenship under a new law ratified in February 2007.
Sassounian, who is also the Executive Director of the United Armenia Fund, has traveled to Armenia countless times since 1989. This last visit, however, was very special.
“I knew about the law,” Sassounian said, “but I didn't know that the government has started enacting it.”
After hearing that, in fact, mechanisms were in place for this process, Sassounian decided to apply in Armenia.
He explained that the process required the completion of a lengthy application, background checks, medical forms and other information. Before the completion of his trip, he was granted citizenship, perhaps becoming the first Diasporan-Armenian to receive citizenship based on this new law.
Sassounian explained that this was not the traditional “10-year” residency that is granted or sometimes bestowed to by government official. “I am a full-fledged citizen,” he explained.
On February 26, 2007, the Armenian parliament overwhelmingly approved the bill on dual citizenship, which allows members of the Diaspora to hold citizenship.
An announcement issued Wednesday by Armenia's Consulate General in Los Angeles indicated that Armenian embassies and consular mission were not accepting applications for dual-citizenship.
Armenia's Consul General in Los Angeles, Armen Liloyan, told Asbarez that no one had yet applied for dual citizenship in Los Angeles, adding that now that the processes and mechanisms for that application have been directed to the consular offices, he welcomed all Diasporans to take advantage of this provision.
Armenia's Ambassador to the US, Tatul Markarian, echoed Liloyan's statements and added that no one has yet received dual citizenship, effectively making Sassounian the first Diasporan to receive dual-citizenship.
Liloyan explained that he and others in the Consulate will be making the rounds on various Armenian television programs to promote dual-citizenship and answer the public's questions about the process.
He also explained that this provision is mainly for Diaspora Armenians, adding that former Armenian citizens who are living in the Diaspora can apply for re-instatement of their citizenship, which he said was a simple logistical process.
The dual-citizenship law stipulates that people of Armenian descent over the age of 18 can apply for Armenian citizenship and must have a three-year permanent residency in the country.
The applicant must be able to speak Armenian and have familiarity with the country's constitution. Citizenship may be granted to couples, where one of the spouses or their children is citizens of Armenia.
The bill denies Armenian citizenship to people whose activity may damage the country's national interests. Dual citizenship law allows for participation in the elections, with proof of residency. However, dual citizens cannot seek elected office. Dual citizens may hold ministerial posts, but cannot run for parliament or president.
People with dual citizenship may serve in the Armenian army, but they are exempt from it if they have served 12 months in the armed forces of the country of their primary citizenship or 18 months as alternative military service. It also says citizens of Armenia who have received a second citizenship would not be exempt from mandatory service in the Armenian armed forces.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which was the main proponent of the right to dual nationality, welcomed the adoption of the bill and on that day its deputies celebrated it with an improvised reception promptly held in their parliament offices.
"This law is an opportunity to consolidate our nation," then ARF faction member Ruben Hovsepian, said. "This legislation will allow Armenian living in different countries to consider themselves full-fledged citizens of Armenia," he said.
Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian also has welcomed this provision.
In an interview with the Tehran-based Huys newspaper in October, Oskanian stressed that dual citizenship will allow the dispersed Armenian population around the world to strengthen its ties with the homeland.
Oskanian said dual citizenship would allow Armenia to strengthen its resources and maintain its position in the ever-evolving world.
“One part of our new resources will come from Armenia and the other part from the Diaspora,” added Oskanian.

INCH PETKA UtOOm.dUAL EN EL VORTEGHVAAA hYASTANI VOR IRA GORZERE IRA SHENoRKIN TEGHAMATRKANTSOV KHAYTARAKERA KARIK CHENK EZGOOM Dual sitizen.me kich dra pokharen Dasyeraki TEGHAMARTkants.ira hin metazelakerpov yev verabermoonkov .khaytarakia vor dzer kakeri mej mez el dzer Passov kharnek chepsin janachatsrelek dzez ashkharin ,getin el chen metnoom der lezoonerner yerkara .dzer kanayk el aseloo ban chen,heto Turkerin ek asoom ,derantseets el arajek khepe.der inch asoomes karzes te pati hetes khosoom.shenorkits Zoork.menak blblatsnoomen 2 bar hyeren verjatsav karzes .toorkatselek byts che vor ooghaki ertak mosqe.varkov yev amen inchov .parskahyeri mej el kan bits en tarikARAZ neri vor der laven logh talis.irants karzoomen 18 tarekanen.

Friday, March 28, 2008

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Dual Citizenship - Now A Reality

So much for the three year permanent residency requirement. I wonder how much Harout had to pay Robert for the honor. Harout is such a boob.