Diaspora: Nikol Pashinyan makes repatriation the “ultimate goal” in the future constitution
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Repatriation must be the “ultimate goal” of relations between Armenia and its diaspora, and the draft new constitution will say so clearly. Nikol Pashinyan announced this on Thursday 5 November in Yerevan as he received the commissioners for diaspora affairs, in town for the third Global Armenian Summit. The draft, which may still change, is due to be published during November. The prime minister wants Armenians to regard the Republic of Armenia as the centre of their lives and activities, which will also be reflected in citizenship. The same day, before parliamentary committees, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan backed tighter conditions for obtaining citizenship. “The state does not hand out citizenship like sweets,” he said, while assuring that Armenians keep preferential conditions.
Analysis
Until now, Yerevan mainly spoke of diaspora engagement: investment, education and joint projects. Writing repatriation into the constitution as a goal changes the scale and may worry communities settled abroad for generations, including in France. The link with tighter citizenship rules, criticised by the opposition, feeds fears that a passport will be harder to obtain for Armenians abroad. The final text of the draft will therefore be closely watched across the diaspora.
Possible consequences
The draft constitution is due to be published in November ahead of a referendum. Details of the future citizenship regime fall under a separate law still under discussion.
