President Sargsyan meets with PACE rapporteur on Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Serzh Sargsyan met Sunday, December 6, with Alan Mill, PACE co-rapporteur on Armenia, who has arrived in the country to observe the referendum on constitutional amendments, the President’s press office reports.

Armenia is voting on amendments to Constitution today, December 6.

1997 polling stations opened across the republic at 8 am local time, set to close at 8 pm. The total number of voters is 2 550 323.

The amended version of the Constitution would increase the role of the National Assembly, government and Prime Minister and essentially curtail the president's powers. Other changes include elimination of majoritarian voting system and full transition to proportional system of forming a parliament.

According to the President, regular meetings enable the parties to discuss issues concerning the comprehensive cooperation between Armenia and the European Council.

Sargsyan hailed CoE efforts in bolstering democracy, protection of human rights and rule of law in Armenia, stressing that the country has been unfailingly implementing reforms over the past years.

Mill, in turn, praised the pre-referendum preparatory work and hailed Armenia’s close cooperation with the Venice Commission.

18 local and 6 international organizations are monitoring the referendum, including: CIS observer mission, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, foreign Central Election Committees, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR), representatives of foreign embassies accredited to Armenia.