The
NA deputy chairman Tigran Torosian proves his affirmation that the behavior of
the opposition isn’t understandable for the opposition.The deputy on issues
of Europe and Eurasia of the US secretary of state Daniel Fried had said on the
occasion of the political powers of Armenia which were against the constitutional
amendments; "Just this we call democracy, when every political power can
express its position". His tolerable attitude made Tigran Torosian to remember
that the behavior of the opposition was surprising for the European institutions.
"Dissent is one of the elements of democracy, there is no second opinion,
– Mr. Torosian noticed first of all. – And when people say that the voting of
"no" is a demonstration of democracy this doesn’t oppose that they,
anyway, don’t understand why not. The substantiation of saying "no",
the right and manifestation are obviously different things."And as a
proof that the position of the opposition is really strange for international
institutions, the head of Armenian delegation in PACE showed us the letter of
the head of monitoring group of the CE Committee of Ministers, the Ambassador
Roland Vegener written on 7 of September. The Ambassador mentions in the letter
that the committee of ministers considers important the constitutional amendments
of Armenia, "which is essential for consolidating democracy". Vegener
informs that he was glad to know that the parliament adopted all those amendments
round of which there was an agreement between the commission of Venice and Armenian
delegations in Strasbourg, 23-24 of June. "At the same time I noticed with
regret that though the NA didn’t vote against amendments, they wasn’t assisted
by the opposition." According to "Arminfo" the PACE chairman Rene
van der Linden was interested from Tigran Torosian why "the opposition which
has criticized the project of constitutional amendments during several months,
today boycotts it when the proposed all issues have been solved during designing
the document." As a source of information Tigran Torosian’s name was mentioned
but the latter said that he hadn’t said such a thing. Tigran Torosian also added;
"The aim of the meeting was to affirm once more that the interest of the
Conference has been enlarged towards the region." And Rene van der Linden
has indeed asked why the opposition refuses the project; "I have said only
a sentence, what the opposition has repeated for many times both in newspapers
and by TV. That the project isn’t bad but as the authorities have produced it
to which the opposition brings a lot of accusations, for that reason it thinks
that this authority mustn’t realize constitutional amendments and they are against
it. That’s all, neither I have added anything nor Van der Linden has replied".
The CE representatives actively propagandize in favor constitutional amendments.
Isn’t it an infringement of "Electoral Code" of the 18th article by
which it isn’t allowed the foreign citizens and organization to carry out pre-electoral
propaganda? Answering to our question Tigran Torosian said; "But they don’t
propagandize. No representative of international organizations have ever suggested
voting "yes". But if anyone has alluded. I’m sure this doesn’t infringe
the law. Let’s don’t forget that the propaganda refers to a clear period and some
activities which are determined by law. No foreigner has been included in that
process and I’m sure, it won’t be included. But naturally, people who are interested
in that document can express their opinion on the importance and usefulness of
the document which they have said for many times."Anna
Israelian