Armenia`s premier to appoint commissioners for diaspora affairs in  foreign countries 

ArmInfo.Commissioners for diaspora affairs of Armenia will soon be appointed as advisors in foreign countries. At its Nov. 10 meeting the standing parliamentary  committee for state and legal affairs approved draft amendments to  the RA Law on Government Service.

 The Oct. 21 Cabinet meeting  approved the relevant draft decision. Armenia's premier will appoint  commissioners for diaspora affairs as public advisors in foreign  countries (unpaid and with no fixed working hours), with the  candidates to be proposed by the High Commissioner for Diaspora  Affairs. Before the decision was approved, Foreign Minister Ararat  Mirzoyan proposed removing the point on requests of agrements for  commissioners from foreign states from the draft decision, as the  procedure presupposes appointment of ambassadors and permanent  representatives. "They are not diplomats, but rather people working  with communities," Mirzoyan said.  

Zareh Sinanyan, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, state in  Parliament that commissioners are supposed to provide professional  advice on Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, assist the work of the High  Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs in cooperation with the Diaspora. 

According to the draft, the Institute of commissioners for diaspora  affairs is supposed to develop the Armenia-Diaspora partnership,  raise the efficiency of the relevant work, ensure stable relations  between Armenian communities, develop communities' potential,  preserve Armenian identity and ensure repatriation to Armenia. The  decision does not require additional funding as the commissioners are  not Armenian public servants, but will be appointed in the states of  their residence.