bits of news

1. DYP Protests Google search results for "Armenian Genocide"
The True Path Party (DYP) has launched a campaign against Internet search giant Google regarding Armenian "genocide" claims. The campaign, mounted by the youth branch of the DYP, draws attention the first 100 pages returned by Google when "Armenian genocide" is typed in the search box. All results are Web sites that claim the veracity of the "genocide." According to the members of the youth branch, all the Web sites were made by Armenians. Google lists Web sites according to the number of people who go to the sites. The way to put Web sites explaining the Turkish version of the events to higher places on the search results is to click them once every day, the youth branch stressed: "The easiest way to do this is to make those Web sites our homepage."


2: Armenia passes dual citizenship...
Armenia seeks to boost population
..>..>
View of Yerevan with Mt Ararat
Armenia's struggling economy needs support from the diaspora
Armenia's parliament has passed a dual nationality bill which allows the granting of citizenship to emigres in the huge Armenian diaspora.

Armenia has a population of 3.2 million but the diaspora is estimated to be some eight million. Many of them live in Russia, France, Iran and the US.

Ethnic Armenians who speak Armenian would benefit, as would foreigners married to an Armenian.

The diaspora's remittances are crucial for Armenia's economy.

Armenians backed dual citizenship in a November 2005 referendum. It abolished a clause in the constitution which barred dual nationality.

The Armenian diaspora is 2,000 years old, but its size increased dramatically after the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1917.

According to the National Bank of Armenia, remittances from the diaspora are double the size of the country's budget.
Armenia is a small landlocked country. It still has bitter disputes with its neighbours Turkey and Azerbaijan. The influence of Russia - formerly Armenia's colonial master - remains strong.