The
NA realized the process of adoption of Constitutional amendments by infringements
until the last moment.The Parliament discussed yesterday by third reading
the project about making amendments in the Constitution. Though only editorial
amendments are made during third reading anyway many of the 100 amendments were
rather essential. For example an article was appeared after second reading; "Relations
among RA and the Armenian Apostolic Saint Church can be settled by agreement".
There is the following version in the final text that those relations may be settled
by law. The following expression is out from the article 14; "RA provides
for defense of main rights and freedoms based on the international principles
and standards." A new part is added in the 16th article by which the law
can deprive of freedom in this case too ‘for providing for honoring some commitments
determined by law." It is added in the article 28 that the rights of forming
parties and trade unions can be limited by law even towards the member of Constitutional
Court. There is a mention in article 29 and according to it the right of holding
peaceful meetings of CC members can be limited. One of the most interesting amendments
is the following, it is mentioned in the 31 article adopted by the second reading;
" The right of purchasing landed property of foreign persons and those who
don’t have citizenship can be determined by law." This criticized a lot and
was considered dangerous. And before adopting it entirely only the formulation
of the current Constitution remained according to which; "Foreign citizens
and those who don’t have citizenship don’t use the right of landed property besides
the cases determined by law." The position of 56.1 article has been criticized
by which the RA President can be sentenced to responsibility for the actions which
don’t connect with his status after his authority is over besides the cases determined
in the 57 article." This reference to the 57 article is removed for state
treachery or for other serious crime. The principle of electing the Yerevan mayor
has also been changed, it is proposed, " direct or indirect election of Yerevan
mayor can be determined by law." The possibility of only indirect elections
was mentioned in the project adopted by second reading. Let’s agree that these
aren’t editorial amendments. So we can say that the NA order was infringed in
the process of Constitutional amendments.A. Israelian