«ARMENIA NEEDS EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION»
Support A1+!«YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD CONSTITUTION, BUT NOT AN IDEAL ONE»
«We can say that the RA authorities have included all our offers into the draft Constitution», said the Venice Commission secretary Gianni Buquicchio. He also answered some other questions of «A1+».
- I know that changes have been introduced into the draft after the second reading, but we are now acquainted with the draft adopted by third reading. EU, CoE and OSCE have only one aim – to see a more democratic Armenia.
- You mentioned in the previous conclusion of the Venice Commission about the process of Constitutional amendments that the RA authorities have to take into account all the offers made by the Commission up to day. Do you consider that the condition has been met?
- We have been cooperating with Armenia since 2000. Our cooperation was very effective till 2003, but the Constitutional referendum failed, as the political powers failed to provide necessary preaching, and the phase was over. We continued the work with the RA authorities and the RA opposition. In the new phase we followed three main demands – providing of balance between the three branches of power, independence of the judicial branch, and the electability of the Yerevan mayor. I think we have done good work.
- The RA opposition is of the opinion that the Venice Commission has had agreements with the RA authorities.
- If you remember, in May we complained of the draft adopted in the NA by first reading as the demands of the opposition had been neglected. The Venice Commission cooperates with all the RA political powers – both the authorities and the opposition. The Venice Commission is an independent structure and believes in democracy.
- You are saying that the main demands of the opposition are taken into account, but the opposition does not agree with it and is going to boycott the referendum. What can you say about it?
- It is difficult to answer that question. It is natural that the opposition demands more. There are no ideal documents in the world. It is always possible to improve the draft. I repeat that the three main demands have been taken into account. The present draft corresponds to the international standards and it can serve as ground for the development of democracy. You can have a good Constitution, not an ideal one. The CoE special representative to Southern Caucasus said once, «Armenia needs evolution, not revolution». A change is a good thing, but it must be reached by democratic principles.
- You are saying that the draft corresponds to international standards. But if the Armenian nation says «No» to the Constitution, what results can it have for the Armenia?
- If the people say «No», we are ready to respect the will of the people and accept the refusal only in case the referendum takes place fairly and freely.
VIKTORIA ABRAHAMYAN
