RUSSIAN NEWSPAPER INTENTIONALLY MISLEADS READER ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Monday the Armenian Parliament started consideration of the draft of changes to the Constitution of Armenia. According to the Kocharian Administration, it is necessary to make the Organic Law "comply with European standards. However, in the opinion of observers there is probability for the package of amendments to be transformed into the new draft of the Constitution of Armenia. If this is the case, the incumbent state head can get the right to start presidential career from the beginning, i.e. maintain tenure for at least two terms," Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) writes. The opportunity of such a transformation of the Republic Constitution has seriously alarmed the Armenian opposition. Thus, as NG reports, leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, member of the political council of Justice bloc Aram Sargsyan stated, "The republic authorities have initially tried to push forward the amendments being discussed by the Parliament at present as draft of the new Constitution, availing themselves with the dual interpretation of the document title "Constitution of Armenia (with amendments)." The opposition is not happy about the amendments, in compliance with which the President - not the Parliament - has the right to appoint the Government head. According to A. Sargsyan, in case the deputies twice disapprove of the PM candidacy, Kocharian acquires the right to dissolve the Parliament. "The adoption of this amendment in case of the undertaking of prolonging tenure will allow the President to become the PM and push through a dirigible successor as the President," A. Sargsyan said. However, Armenian authorities do not see grounds for such apprehensions of the opposition. Thus, Armenian President's Press Secretary Victor Soghomonyan stated that the amendments being considered by the Parliament are "nothing but merely amendments to the Constitution of Armenia in force." They are legally designed as amendments and they will be such. The changes in the Constitution will not entail passing a new Organic Law," V. Soghomonyan said. Meanwhile, as reported by NG, "Russia doubts the frankness of Armenian official authorities." In the opinion of a newspaper informed source in the Russian President's Administration, "the transformation of the amendments being considered into the draft of the new Constitution of Armenia and its following adoption is inevitable." "As far as it is known, all basic political forces of Armenia have come to consensus over the issue. There is no doubt that the amendments will become the final version of the Armenian Constitution," a Kremlin Administration top official told NG. Simultaneously he doubts the option when Kocharian will resort to the third presidential tenure is real. "The changes in the Constitution can rather be considered as a concession by the Armenian leaders under the Council of Europe pressure, as well as partially a move toward the internal opposition. The draft of changes suggested is aimed at reforming Armenia into a parliamentary republic, expansion of the power of the Parliament and the Prime Minister. Besides, Kocharian has stated many times that it is not his final tenure. He most probably agrees to concessions to leave in peace later, not to awaiting for internal political instability and maybe reserving the PM chair for himself," the NG source said. Armenian political scientist, pro-rector of the CIS Caucasus Institute Aleksandr Iskandaryan agrees with this. In his words, the formally adopted amendments limit and do not strengthen the President's authority. "The opinion of third tenure for President Kocharian is totally impossible in my opinion. The amendments being discussed in the Parliament at present are agreed with the Venice Commission of the CE, which is utterly important to Armenia and may become basis for introducing them," A. Iskandaryan told NG. Meanwhile, it should be noted that in compliance with article 50 of the Constitution of Armenia (with amendments), the President of the Republic of Armenia is elected for a term of 5 years. The same person cannot occupy the office of the President for more than two terms successively. Special attention should also be paid to the fact that the "very informed" authors of the article state Robert Kocharian was elected for the first tenure in 1996. It should be noted that the R. Kocharian was elected in the course of the presidential election held March 30, 1998. Thus, one should note that the authors of the article published in NG, to all appearance, aimed at intentionally misleading readers, who do not have much information.