The
first sitting of the NA temporary commission on issues
for integrating into European institutions on discussion of projects of constitutional
changes took place yesterday.
The
schedule and working order was accepted during the sitting according to which
the projects of constitutional changes of the coalition, Arshak Sadoyan, and ULP
will be discussed. They will be discussed in turn by the principle of putting
into circulation. The substantial discussions will begin in February 2005. And
the commission intends to return to its all projects during its 6 sittings from
February 2-17. The head of the commission Tigran Torosian suggested that those
out of parliamentary parties and public organizations which wanted to take part
in the substantial discussions had to inform the commission about it: "We’ll
invite everybody with pleasure." The authors of projects of constitutional
changes who was asked to interpret the appraisals of Venice commission about suggested
constitutional changes were also took part in yesterday’s sitting. For example
the European experts mentioned about Arshak Sadoyan’s produced constitutional
changes that "it doesn’t refer to some axial issues such as the protection
of human rights and freedoms or the judicial authority. It also includes some
points that aren’t applicable in practice." To this remarks Mr. Sadoyan answered:
"I wouldn’t say this conclusion includes a serious condemnation about our
project. But I’m sorry I haven’t sent an attendant letter to the commission of
Venice mentioning the absence of some chapters of the Constitution means that
we are agree with the project of changes of 2001. In my opinion the commission
of Venice responded rather positively to the points on local self-government or
state structure. And I’ll try to make those important points as the basis of consistency."The
commission of Venice considers the project of changes of ULP faction as very similar
to the project of 2001. Gourgen Arsenian answered to this remark: " I’m agree
with the appraisal of the commission’s experts at the part of human rights. But
I’m not agree with the parts of the President of Armenia, National Assembly and
Government. We have suggested elements of half-presidential system but such elements
are fewer in the project of 2001. The same refers to the changes of juridical
system. We realized serious elucidation in the system of the Office of Public
Prosecutor which we have carried to the President’s side and his obligation is
to follow legalities in the country."One of these three projects will
be accepted as the bases of further work. To our observation whether the project
of the coalition will be accepted Gourgen Arsenian answered: " Our colleagues
must also understand that this is one of the axial issues for the future of our
country where the membership to any political structure mustn’t be important."We
tried to find out the attitude of the head of the NA commission on issues of integrating
into European institutions towards the suggestion to discuss separate points of
the project and not the whole project to be more understandable for the people.
"We could collect the issues and vote. It is logical to separate the issues.
But I think there are some difficulties in connection with both the Constitution
and laws. And we must think about it and work seriously."Anna
Israelian