1. The Parliamentary Assembly recalls that the revision of the Constitution is a pre-condition for the fulfilment of some of the most important commitments that Armenia undertook upon its accession to the Council of Europe. These include the reform of the judicial system, local self-government reform, the introduction of an independent ombudsman, the establishment of independent regulatory authorities...

According to the coalition’s draft adopted within the process of constitutional reform the Prime Minister is rather helpless and can be defined as the executive director of the government. The coalition’s draft constitutional amendments has nothing in common with the semi-presidential government system, this project is typical for the president one. “The most important question...

Semi-presidential system of state government supposes that the government should enlist the trust of the parliamentary majority. Consequently the parliament should take part in formation of the government to efficiently apply domestic and foreign policy”, special of constitution right Vardan Poghosyan says. In the states of Eastern Europe the parliament is given a particular role in the formation...

The Prime Minister in Armenia is appointed and dismissed by the President of the republic. This right is given to him by the Constitution. In the draft constitutional amendments this clause remained unchanged. Who should appoint the Prime Minister – the President or the National Assembly? We addressed to 100 Yerevan residents with this question June 18-22. Only 10% of the respondents spoke...

After the end of the Venice Commission working group session the Commission Constitutional Rights department head Simona Granata-Mengini answered the questions of «A1+». {BR} - According to the agreement reached by the Venice Commission working group and the Armenian delegation, how must the governing system be formed. - As for the formation of the governing system, we came to an agreement about...

According to the agreements reached as a result of the meeting of the Venice Commission working group and the Armenian delegation, up to June 7 the head of the Armenian delegation to COE must represent to the Venice Commission the draft Constitution which must reflect the content of the document adopted as a result of today’s discussions. {BR} “The document especially underlines that the final...

Today the Political Debate Club organized a seminar in hotel Congress about the isolation of Armenia from regional programs. {BR} The first reporter was NA deputy Hmayak Hovhannisyan, and the second was to be a representative of the government or the coalition, but the club had not managed to come to an agreement with a reporter from the coalition. Hmayak Hovhannisyan represented his opinion alone....

«Today is a fine day both for Armenia and the COE. We did wonderful work with the Armenian delegation and came to an agreement about all the issues», said the Venice Commission secretary Gianni Buquicchio after the end of the session of the Venice Commission working group with the Armenian delegation. {BR} Mr. Buquicchio mentioned that in all the three disputable issues which refer to the power...

«Today only people with limited abilities are at power», announced Vazgen Manoukyan today during the National Democratic Union 16th session. According to Mr. Manoukyan these people do what they can and still are surprised at why people are displeased with them. And the people will be displeased as long as the majority consists of those with limited abilities. {BR} Vazgen Manoukyan announced that...

«The Armenian won the Karabakh war because they left aside individual interests and united together. If we want to win today, we must unite. The society thinks that each party has its interests, that's why they do not unite», said secretary of the Social powers and Intelligentsia Union Ashot Manoucharyan during the National Democratic Union 16th session and added, «If you can unite, do it, and if...

Yesterday in PACE the Ad-hoc Committee on NKR affairs had the first secret sitting. As it was expected, during its work organization affairs were discussed, and the day of the following sitting was decided. It will take place on September 12 in Paris. {BR} As reported by the internet newspaper day.az, member of the Azeri delegation to PACE Asim Molazade has said, «An agreement has been reached according...

Today the sitting of the PACE Committee on Karabakh started in Strasbourg. The sitting is secret and journalists will be furnished with information from official sources later. {BR} To note, today the discussion of organizational and technical issues was planned. We will furnish more detailed information on the work of the commission tomorrow.

Today the sitting of the working group of the Venice Commission with the participation of the working group on constitutional reforms in Armenia, members of coalition Tigran Torosyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Vostanik Marukhyan, Justice Minister David Harutyunyan, RA President’s representative Armen Harutyunyan and constitutional right specialist Vardan Poghosyan has started today. The sitting will be...

The majority of the 15 delegates, who registered for delivering speeches at the debate on constitutional reform in Armenia, were Azeris and Turks.{BR} Member of Turkish delegation Murat Mercan turned the discussion of the constitutional reform into the debate on the Armenian-Turkish relations and the fate of Western Armenia. “Western Armenia has nothing to do with Armenia, it is on Turkey’s territory. This fact should be fixed in the Armenian...

During the debates on constitutional reform in Armenia Head of the PACE Liberal Democratic and Reformers’ Group Matyas Eorsi stated, “We should remind Robert Kocharyan and others, who hold the power, that after adoption of any law it should be applied within shortest terms. However with reading the report on constitutional reform in Armenia one gets the impression that the Constitution is called...

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is “deeply concerned” by the fact that the delay in the adoption of the constitutional amendments is “holding back Armenia's progress towards European democratic norms and standards in key areas of political life”. According to the Assembly, the revision of the Constitution is a pre-condition for the fulfillment of some of the most important...

Today PACE discussed and ratified the draft resolution on constitutional reform in Armenia adopted by the PACE Monitoring Committee. {BR} PACE rejected two out of the three proposals. One referred to the Armenian state borders submitted by the Turkish delegation. The second said, “In case the referendum fails PACE will make appropriate conclusions during the January session in 2006.” It should be noted that Mr. Jerzy Jaskiernia suggested that...

On invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary General of the European Union Javier Solana Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan participated in an international conference on Iraq on June.{BR} More than 80 foreign ministers attended the conference and discussed support for Iraq’s political transition process, encouraging its economic recovery and reconstruction, and...

Today the PACE Monitoring Committee rejected one of the three proposals submitted on the draft resolution of constitutional reform in Armenia. The proposal advanced by the Turkish delegation was rejected with the difference of one vote, which belonged to Mr. Matyas Eorsi, head of the Liberal Democratic and Reformers’ Group. {BR} ”The Armenian delegation cannot take part in the vote, since the...

Today the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will make decisions on a number of issues vital for Armenia. The draft resolution on constitutional reform in Armenia, adopted by the PACE Monitoring Committee will be discussed. {BR} Today at 4 p.m. the Venice Commission’s working group on constitutional reform in Armenia will meet with the Armenian delegation, which also includes Justice Minister David Harutyunyan and RA President’s...

Today at 11.30 Yerevan time the PACE Monitoring Committee sat to discuss three proposals, submitted by the Assembly delegations on the constitutional reform process in Armenia. {BR} The first proposal was advanced by the Turkish delegates. “The Constitution should be brought to the correspondence with international agreements, fix the state borders with all the neighbors thus promoting friendly...

Today the PACE Committee for Karabakh will hold its first sitting. As it is already known, the committee is composed of members of PACE different committees, representatives of the Armenian and Azeri opposition as well as the rapporteurs on Armenia and Azerbaijan. {BR} The Commission is headed by Lord Russell Johnston.

The reporters about the activity of the democratic institutions in Azerbaijan and political prisoners concluded the discussion of the issue rather categorically. {BR} In answer to the Azeri delegation head Samed Seyidov's announcement that the coming elections will be organized according to the democratic standards, the main reporters Andreas Gross said, «In contrast to you, Mr. Seyidov, I am not...

«I would not like to speak about the Euro integration of Azerbaijan and not because I am not interested in it, but because in PACE there are more people more competent about this matter. I want to make a speech as Azerbaijan tries to connect all the issues to the Karabakh conflict», in answer to the Azeri delegates Armen Roustamyan, member of the Armenian delegation made speech. {BR} Mr. Roustamyan...