Major-General Vitaly Balasanian, the member of “ARF-Movement 88” parliamentarian group advises.
- How do you explain the circumstance that the «ARF-Movement 88» group didn\’t demonstrate a joint position during the second reading of the draft of constitution, Gegham Baghdasarian voted «abstained», the others were “for”.
- Everybody decides himself what is right. Our friend, Mr. Baghdasarian made such a decision, explaining that he had made a proposal in the final, transition items about recognizing invalid the law «About president», which had been refused. Recognizing that law invalid gives the current president to nominate his candidacy after adoption of the new Constitution. There were other proposals, which were refused. That\’s why Gegham Baghdasarian voted «abstained». And the group hadn\’t decided to vote unanimously.
- Gegham Baghdasarian has given other explanations, too, as the public opinion was ignored, the project was published only after first reading.
- The constitutional commission was formed in 1996, and no work was done till today. Both it and the haste of the latest period were wrong. They could not hurry and design the most democratic constitution for the region. Our group is small, we made corresponding proposals, but they didn\’t accept. But the majority of the group voted «for», as we adopted the main law of the country.
- Your partner made another interpretation that the RNK NA was following Prosecutor General Armen Zalinian, the head of the working group, the latter\’s opinion was decisive.
- The rightist version in the process of designing the project of constitution, one of the steps to democracy would be that not pro-authority person led the working group. Armen Zalinian was the former head of the president\’s staff, and he was ordered to lead the working group. But when he became the prosecutor general, his presentation of the project of constitution didn’t correspond to the adopted tradition of democratic countries. We were against it, and have asked such questions.
- How do you explain the circumstance that though Arcady Ghukasian has declared for several times that he has no intention to be nominated for the third time as the NKR president but anyway, there are some apprehensions that the new Constitution will give him such an opportunity.
- Frankly speaking, it isn\’t serious for me. What does it mean, some forces or people have an apprehension that the current president may nominate his candidacy for the third time. And President Ghukasian issues a statement and denies. There was no need for it at all. It is the same when the presidents of Armenia, Russia or America declare that they won’t nominate their candidacy for the third time. If the law allows, let them be nominated. But the law forbids. And the most important thing is that people, who speak about necessity of being nominated for 3-4-5 times, let them not forget the NKR image.
- Whom do you see as the NKR next president?
- It’s too early to speak about it. It would be unserious to speak about presidential candidates. I can’t exclude that Arcady Ghukasian won’t be nominated for the third term. But there are more than 100000 inhabitants in Karabakh and the corresponding number of candidates will be nominated. People will decide and elect its future president.