Armenia for Armenians

[Mos]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Well also remember that many "Western Armenians" escaped to present day Armenia, though now they would be considered Eastern Armenians.

I've read some genetic studies that show that the closest people to us genetically are Azerbaijanis, followed by Turks. Just proving more my claim that dividing people based one tiny dna differences is idiotic, and more attention should be paid to looking at cultural differences.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Armenia for ALL Armenians.
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Armenia may have two-chamber parliament

Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan during a meeting with Diaspora Armenians in California talked about a sensational idea. She conveyed Armenian President’s intention to establish two-chamber parliament by changing the Republic of Armenia Constitution, giving a possibility to Diaspora Armenians to be members of the parliament’s upper chamber and thus involving world-spread Armenians in our country’s state government.

The Minister of Diaspora is set to meet with heads of all Armenian organizations in California.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2011/01/31/hranush-hakobyan-parliament/

[KanadaHye]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Armenia for ALL Armenians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armenia may have two-chamber parliament

Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan during a meeting with Diaspora Armenians in California talked about a sensational idea. She conveyed Armenian President’s intention to establish two-chamber parliament by changing the Republic of Armenia Constitution, giving a possibility to Diaspora Armenians to be members of the parliament’s upper chamber and thus involving world-spread Armenians in our country’s state government.

The Minister of Diaspora is set to meet with heads of all Armenian organizations in California.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2011/01/...an-parliament/

Would this mean that diaspora Armenians would be involved in Armenia's foreign policy? That's the only way this could make sense.

[Eddo211]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Armenia for ALL Armenians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armenia may have two-chamber parliament

Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan during a meeting with Diaspora Armenians in California talked about a sensational idea. She conveyed Armenian President’s intention to establish two-chamber parliament by changing the Republic of Armenia Constitution, giving a possibility to Diaspora Armenians to be members of the parliament’s upper chamber and thus involving world-spread Armenians in our country’s state government.

The Minister of Diaspora is set to meet with heads of all Armenian organizations in California.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2011/01/...an-parliament/

Serj is the man.....I don't know about domestic issues but when it has come to foreign issues he has been very impressive (outfoxing the wolfs) if you ask me.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Would this mean that diaspora Armenians would be involved in Armenia's foreign policy? That's the only way this could make sense.

I'm not sure what this means but an upper chamber (aka a Senate) is usually less powerful than the lower chamber and it is usually dominated by rich old men who serve terms for life or until their own resignation.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Armenian parliament to have two chambers?

"The president's first step in that direction was the decision to create a diaspora ministry, which later elaborated a serious policy to reinforce the diaspora communities' ties with their homeland. The second step was the introduction of the dual citizenship system. And the initiative to create an upper house in parliament is actually our third step which will enable the diaspora to have its say in our state government system and policy making procedures," she added.

http://tert.am/en/news/2011/01/31/parliament/?sw

[Mos]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

Armenia for ALL Armenians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armenia may have two-chamber parliament

Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan during a meeting with Diaspora Armenians in California talked about a sensational idea. She conveyed Armenian President’s intention to establish two-chamber parliament by changing the Republic of Armenia Constitution, giving a possibility to Diaspora Armenians to be members of the parliament’s upper chamber and thus involving world-spread Armenians in our country’s state government.

The Minister of Diaspora is set to meet with heads of all Armenian organizations in California.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2011/01/...an-parliament/

I don't know how I feel about this. Should non citizens of Armenia be making decisions for the Republic? I don't think so. Armenians of Armenia should be making decisions for Armenia, diasporans (esp western armenians) should be more involved in more humanitarian organisations for armenia, genocide recognition, and cultural spheres. The connection of western armenians to the soviet mindset, culture, is rather weak and making political decisions for armenia often relies on the knowledge and having of this soviet past/upbringing.

[londontsi]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

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I think this is a master stoke.

It all depends the type of role it will have.

I hope it will have limited blocking power, be more an advisory, and provide the vision for the future.

Its much better getting advice from a ( wiser and representative ) Upper House than foreign ministries of Great Powers who only pursue their own interest.
The protocol fiasco is a case in point.

Diaspora must be kept as close to the Hayrenilk as possible and never allow any rift to develop between them.

Armenia is "home" to all Armenians.

[Federate]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

I don't know how I feel about this. Should non citizens of Armenia be making decisions for the Republic? I don't think so. Armenians of Armenia should be making decisions for Armenia, diasporans (esp western armenians) should be more involved in more humanitarian organisations for armenia, genocide recognition, and cultural spheres. The connection of western armenians to the soviet mindset, culture, is rather weak and making political decisions for armenia often relies on the knowledge and having of this soviet past/upbringing.

We have a lot to learn from J3ws... The above statement would be considered scandalous if instead of "Eastern" and "Western" Armenian we replaced it with "Mizrahi" or "Sephardic" and "Ashkenazi" J3w. The point is to get rid of the Soviet mindset and "culture", not to integrate to it. Injection of Diaspora-Armenians will speed up this process along with the recent generation of youth in Armenia that is already standing up against the old corrupt practises.

But regardless, even if the upper chamber is established and Diasporans are allowed in, they would most probably require at least dual citizenship. And the upper chamber is hardly something that makes many decisions in a country anyway, it has limited powers. In many countries, Senators are appointed (as opposed to elected) as well so there's a grand possibility that the President or PM would be calling the shots on who gets a job in it and you can bet they'll be careful on who they choose.

.
.
I think this is a master stoke.

It all depends the type of role it will have.

I hope it will have limited blocking power, be more an advisory, and provide the vision for the future.

Its much better getting advice from a ( wiser and representative ) Upper House than foreign ministries of Great Powers who only pursue their own interest.
The protocol fiasco is a case in point.

Diaspora must be kept as close to the Hayrenilk as possible and never allow any rift to develop between them.

Armenia is "home" to all Armenians.

Indeed.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia for Armenians

We have a lot to learn from J3ws... The above statement would be considered scandalous if instead of "Eastern" and "Western" Armenian we replaced it with "Mizrahi" or "Sephardic" and "Ashkenazi" J3w. The point is to get rid of the Soviet mindset and "culture", not to integrate to it. Injection of Diaspora-Armenians will speed up this process along with the recent generation of youth in Armenia that is already standing up against the old corrupt practises.

But regardless, even if the upper chamber is established and Diasporans are allowed in, they would most probably require at least dual citizenship. And the upper chamber is hardly something that makes many decisions in a country anyway, it has limited powers. In many countries, Senators are appointed (as opposed to elected) as well so there's a grand possibility that the President or PM would be calling the shots on who gets a job in it and you can bet they'll be careful on who they choose.

100 years of Soviet rule, like it or not, has created a cultural divide between Western and Eastern Armenians. However, in order to properly govern a post-Soviet country, one must also understand that Soviet culture which was such a big part of society for 100 years. Also, we can't expect diasporans who have little connection to Armenia to make the best decisions for the country, so any diasporan that does contribute must have a history of connections to the country. You can't just pop into Armenia as your first visit, and say that you are going to be making some changes. You must have lived in Armenia for a while, you must have interacted with the people of Armenia, in order to have a good picture of the society, because the Armenians of Armenia are rather different than the Western Armenians living in diaspora, very different actually.

Unfortunately those very Western Armenians that they want to incorporated are still viewed as outsiders in Armenia, while eastern armenians who go and live like the westerners in foreign countries are received much better.

In all, it's a good idea to bring diaspora close to Armenia, but why should that entail making government decisions for Armenia?