All Armenians Should Have a RA Citizen Passport

RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers it one of the most important current issues to eliminate the conceptual and ideological borders between the diaspora and Armenia. In his opinion, every Armenian should regard themselves as a beneficiary of the RA as much as those residing in Armenia, and the most significant way to achieve this is to possess a RA citizen passport.

According to Armenpress, Pashinyan expressed this view during a meeting with media representatives in Los Angeles. A reporter noted that different leaders of the country have held various approaches regarding the role of the diaspora. He inquired about the Prime Minister's decision on utilizing the resources of the diaspora in leading the country.

"This is indeed a very important question, one of the most pressing matters of our third republic, and it should be viewed in the context of dynamics and development. I believe that the current most crucial issue is to eliminate the conceptual and ideological borders between the diaspora and Armenia. For instance, is a person who emigrated from Armenia in 2015 considered a diasporan? In my understanding, they are not. And what about someone who emigrated in 2001? In my opinion, they also are not, and so it goes on with the same logic. People have left Armenia for various reasons. My brother left Armenia in 1996 and went to live in Russia; should I refer to him as a diasporan? Do you consider your friends who are not living in Armenia as diasporans and are you developing new formulas of relationships with them?" asked the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister noted that there are various ways to achieve this, but the most important one he emphasized was that all Armenians should have a RA citizen passport and accept RA citizenship as a minimum requirement. Pashinyan stated that they should spend at least some time living in Armenia each year.