EXPERT OF VENICE COMMISSION ADVISES ARMENIANS “TO DEMOCRATIZE” THEIR MENTALITY
YEREVAN, JUNE 2. ARMINFO. If the authors of the draft constitutional
amendments of Armenia do not accept the remarks of the Venice
Commission of the Council of Europe, then Venice experts will be very
disappointed and come out with the same strict statement they made
recently. Member of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio stated
after the meeting with the representatives of the ruling coalition
of Armenia, who are the authors of the draft amendments.
Of course, the Venice Commission is not authorized to apply any
sanction against the countries, who does not respect its proposals,
nevertheless, the Council of Europe, European Union and OSCE consider
the opinion of the commission, he stressed. Despite the fact that
the draft amendments was considerably elaborated, three issues are
principal for the Venice Commission – to ensure balance between
the branches of power, independence of judiciary and expansion of
the authorities of local self-government bodies. According to the
Venice expert, the parties has not reached a consensus regarding
these three issues.
Mr. Buquicchio said that the meeting with the representatives of
the coalition was very effective and passed in constructive and
friendly atmosphere. Commenting on the statements of several Armenian
politicians on that the recent statement of the Venice commission was
of a political nature and was aimed to ensure parity between Armenia
and Azerbaijan in CE, Gianni Buquicchio stressed that the statement
contained only political estimation of the draft amendments. At
the same time the Venice expert expressed hope for that a document,
which meets European standards and elaborated in the atmosphere of
political consensus, will be submitted to referendum in October of
this year. He said that the Constitution of Armenia must satisfy all –
firs of all Armenians, then Europeans.
In his turn, Vice Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, Head of the
Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, expressed hope for that the remarks of the European experts
will be accepted. At the same time he said that serious work must be
done for that.