RETHINKING MIGRATION: DASHNAKS SAY NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK; INTRODUCE MEASURES TO STOP OUTFLOW
SOCIETY | 18.09.13 | 14:38
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By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The new project “We Are Going to Live in Our Country”, developed by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, aims at suspending
the alarmingly growing migration rates, which experts say threaten
the national security of Armenia.
Armen Rustamyan, Armenian Revolutionary Party (ARF) faction member,
says Armenia has always had high migration rates, however, the dynamics
has changed over the years, causing serious demographic issues.
“Migration is a complex issue, reflecting all the shortcomings,
failures, mistakes we have made since independence and have been
unable to solve them. It would be wrong to wait for power turnover
then take up that issue. Urgent steps have to be made today, now.
Migration is like hemorrhage for the body, it has to be stopped right
away, so that the body can start recuperation,” says Rustamyan.
The project consists of 11 main points embracing all the fundamental
spheres of life.
ARF MP Artsvik Minasyan says the project suggests that first of all
business and politics be separated, new employment opportunities be
created with fair payment system, predictable tax and customs policies,
shift from social to industrial agriculture. It also provides for
making education more affordable and turning its management system
apolitical, introducing compulsory medical insurance, raising the
level of national security.
“We suggest that those officials be replaced who exhibit
anti-Christian, anti-humanity behavior, stirring obvious negative
public sentiments; restrictions be set for public servants, such as –
a public servant has no right to show up at a casino, purchase real
estate or make any other investments outside the country during his/her
tenure; in the personnel policy appointments by party affiliation
be ruled out, with the exception of separate state positions,”
details Minasyan.
To the question who among the officials they see as deserving of
replacement, Dashnaks say they have decided not to disclose any names,
because the main responsibility for the project implementation is
on the authorities and the authorities tend to start protecting
those people whose names get voiced. “For that reason we have left
that part to wait until the last stage of discussions of the project
drafted on the basis of common sense. Then we will submit it to the
authorities along with a package with names and positions of those
evoking negative public sentiments in Armenia,” says Minasyan.
It takes cooperation to carry out any project, they say, which does
not mean, however, they are returning to coalition.
“If we set a goal to raise the governance efficiency in the country,
and levers of supervision have to be handed to the opposition, then
that’s cooperation too – cooperation for the sake of the development
of our state, however, not guided by the principle of coalitional
administration,” explains Minasyan.
Dashnaks say the government has to assume liabilities in the project
implementation, while the opposition, media, civil society, the church,
Diaspora, intelligentsia, the youth – all have their share of work
to do.
The State Migration Service data for the first term of 2013 shows
that the number of those departing from Armenia exceeded that of
the arrivals by 95,000. The greater share of departures (617,411)
and arrivals (563,931) was by automobile transport, the negative
balance was 53,480. The respective numbers for air transport was
390,996 and 350,342, with the negative balance being 40,654. The
numbers of arrival/departures by buses and minibuses were 8,574 and
7,696 respectively, hence the negative balance made 878 people.
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