A lot of people nowadays are discussing the initiative to establish an Armenian senate, which will be a second chamber in the parliament of Armenia. Senators will be elected from the members of the Armenian diaspora abroad. The VK correspondent in Yerevan has asked David Petrosyan, a political analyst of the Noyan Tapan news agency, to share his opinions on the issue.
- The initiative of the Diaspora Affairs Minister to establish a Senate in Armenia is now being discussed passionately, both in Armenia and abroad. What do you think about this? Is it possible to establish a senate in Armenia?
- The fact that such a project actually exists was admitted by the official representative of the Presidential Administration. Still, there are a lot of questions. According to the project, the senators will be citizens of foreign states and not citizens of Armenia. There is no such precedent in the history of the world. A lot of issues are still uncertain.
- Then why has such idea has been put forward?
- I believe that the Armenian elite are trying to improve their relations with the Armenian diaspora abroad. It's well-known that these relations were spoiled after the country signed a protocol with Turkey. This new action will improve relations between the country's authorities and the diaspora and give the President a chance to make Armenian-Turkish cooperation even more active. This is probably required by the USA, which is trying to force Russia completely out of the region.
- What's the attitude of the diaspora to this idea?
- The attitude of different members of the Armenian community abroad varies. For instance, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, Egik Jerejyan, said that such an initiative is realistic and could be fulfilled if the Armenian people vote for it. At the same time, another well-known member of the Armenian diaspora living in the USA, Abo Pokhikyan, thinks that there is no reason to discuss this unless a special commission is established.
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan. Exclusively to VK
