Syrian Armenians offer to reduce the denize term in Armenia

Armenians of Syria hope for simplification of the procedure for entering their historical homeland and for reduction of the period for obtaining citizenship from the current six months to one or two months. This was stated by Tigran Gaboyan, a Syrian writer of Armenian descent, at today's press conference, held in Yerevan.

On July 26, the Armenian government decided to simplify the procedure for obtaining Armenian citizenship for foreign nationals of Armenian descent. However, till present, there is no specific information about the period for consideration of documents, which applicants for obtaining citizenship of Armenia can expect.

"We are much concerned about the time of obtaining Armenian citizenship. We would prefer if this period of 4-6 months would be reduced up to 1-2 months, even if only for Syrian Armenians. Armenian visa is issued for a period of 3 months, and after its expiration, a person should renew it or pay a penalty at the expiration of its term, which amounts to 3 US dollars per day," Tigran Gaboyan stated.

According to the Department for Passports and Visas of the Police of Armenia, in January-May 2012, about 2700 Armenians from Syria expressed their desire to obtain Armenian citizenship.

The press conference was also attended by three other representatives of the Armenian community of Syria pharmacist Karlos Gasparyan, jeweler Vigen Bozyakaryan, and entrepreneur Vazgen Mesropyan. They assessed the atmosphere in Armenia as a favourable environment for the establishment of their own business and the people's attitude towards them as very good.

According to them, apart from the periods of granting the citizenship, the Syrian Armenians are also concerned about the cost of tickets.

At present, the cost of air tickets for the flight Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan reaches about 237,000 drams (580 US dollars).