YEREVAN. - MPs from Armenian National Assembly Samvel Balasanyan (Prosperous Armenia Party), Tachat Vardapetyan (Republican Party of Armenia) proposed to make amendments to the law “On foreign citizen” for Armenian citizens of neighbor Georgia could arrive in Armenia without receiving status designed for foreign citizens.

It was also proposed to allow these citizens to come to Armenia by their own cars, without restrictions under Article 38 of the Customs Code. According to the MPs, the adoption of the bill aims to improve relations between Armenians in Georgia and the homeland. According to them, the bill will provide an opportunity to remove obstacles for a temporary stay of Armenians in Georgia, in particular, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli.

The MPs stressed the adoption of the bill is also conditioned by foreign political motives, aimed at stemming the outflow of Armenians from Javakheti.

However, the government disapproved the draft bill. According to Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan such a biased attitude is unacceptable. Moreover, Armenia’s legislation provides free stay of Georgian citizens within certain period, whereas unlimited stay without legal status will create confusion.