While the RA authorities are persistent in reaching the constitutional amendments to the end even in the absence of political consolidation. After the visit to Armenia, the Co- Rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee on Armenia for Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Axel Fischer and Alan Mill, considered the main goals of the constitutional reforms to be the strengthening of the political pluralism, increase of accountability of the government before the National Assembly and the public trust in the political system. But, it is obvious through the naked eye that no pluralism and consolidation as of now in Armenia’s political arena that has been repeatedly emphasized by the Venice Commission are ensured.
“Aravot” asked the RA NA MP Khachatur Kokobelyan to comment, on the one hand, the reservations of the PACE on this issue, on the other hand, the RA authorities’ persistence, also the fact that the RA National Assembly discussed the issue to make amendments in the RA Law on the “Referendum”, the parliamentarian admitted that this law actually has flaws, but he was not in favor of the option submitted to the National Assembly, because these amendments do not completely eliminate the flaws and drawbacks. According to Mr. Kokobelyan, the largest deficit in Armenia is in the public trust, because with the exception of 1991, the elections in Armenia were conducted under a certain crisis. Mr. Kokobelyan has negative forecast regarding the referendum. “It is very likely that this time, conducting constitutional amendments cannot much differ from the previous attempts.”
According to him, the Constitution is not the document, which can be left untouched, but he also thinks that the internal and external challenges existing in Armenia are not associated only with the Constitution. We inquired whether the RA authorities’ not being all ears to the urges of the PACE about pluralism and consolidation would negatively affect the Armenia-EU relations, in particular, about the upcoming new document by the end of the year, or how Serzh Sargsyan should behave to be able to both solve the issues of his reproduction and to improve the relations with PACE, Mr. Kokobelyan preferred not to link these two processes together and said, “The Constitutional amendments should be driven from the interests of the RA citizens, and the pluralism should ensure an independent judicial system, which it fails doing it.”
Mr. Kokobelyan addressed the PACE observations that in addition to the reforms in the political system, the constitutional amendments should also ensure issues related to human rights, an independent judicial system, and it is not necessarily to “pack” concealing the main objective of those amendments by the positive veils. Khachatur Kokobelyan admits that PACE has serious reservations on this matter, but he also does not admit the stance by some political forces who boycott the contextual discussions, as therewith they allow the authorities to hold a Constitution that is suitable to them.
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To our inquiry whether there is an alternative, as it is already certain that in the fall, a referendum will be conducted on this issue, Mr. Kokobelyan noted that it is early to make conclusions as the document is not yet finalized. He emphasized that the citizen’s participation in the selection of the Constitution and the electoral system is more important to ensure equal competitive terms for “yes” and “no”, and the citizen has the opportunity to say his “no”, which so far is not ensured.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
“Aravot” daily
