Kocharian Compared Armenian Constitution with Old Car Needing Replacement

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with students and the teaching staff of the Yerevan State University Faculty of Law. In his welcoming speech the Armenian leader highlighted 3 aspects of the constitutional reforms. The first one is how the idea of holding constitutional reforms was born. The second refers to what will happen in case the referendum outcome is negative and whether it will hit the authorities. The third lies in what will happen in case the constitutional reforms are adopted. The idea to hold a referendum on the constitution was born already in 1998, when in his election campaign R. Kocharian promised to implement them, the President said. A special commission was formed that worked, chaired by Paruyr Hayrikyan first. Thus the idea of holding constitutional reforms issued not only from the authorities. «During the process of accession to the CE Armenia assumed many commitments. Most of them directly referred to changed in the Constitution. No one made us to enter the CE. It was a deliberate choice conditioned by conviction that strengthening of reforms and international involvement of Armenia was necessary. The President, the PM and all factions of the Parliament signed it,» he remarked. In the President's words, people who signed the statement on accession to the CE today propagate against constitutional changes.



As of the consequences of possible negative outcome of the referendum, R. Kocharian said «the world will not collapse if it is the case.» In his words, there is no country, whose constitution has not been changed for many times - conditioned by development and global processes. The constitution should be a changing document in tune with time. The current Constitution of Armenia has become old and needs reforms. The Armenian leader compared the current Constitution with an old car that needs to be replaced by a new one. Speaking whether the negative outcome of the referendum will hit the Armenian authorities, R. Kocharian remarked it would hit the country rating, not the authorities, as they will preserve their power. However, «we demonstrate that for the sake of democratization the authorities may refuse some powers,» he added. Not accepting the constitutional reforms will mean people in Armenia are not ready to promoting democracy and it is an insult to the country and people. Thus, the opposition propagates for an insulting outcome that will show the country and Armenian people in a negative light. In case of the wording "What will Armenia lose in case of negative outcome of the referendum?" the President suggested using "Which opportunities will the country miss?" In his words, the list of those opportunities may be very long.



In case the changes are adopted, at least 2 years will be necessary for making Armenian legislation comply with the new Constitution, Mr. Kocharian said. In his words, Armenia does not have natural resources - oil, gas, its potential lies in the human factor. The whole potential necessary for development of the country - including economic development - will be exposed by constitutional reforms. Besides, the passage of constitutional changed will provide for stability in the country and will show that the Armenian people abide by democratic values. In R. Kocharian's words, Armenia's position in international structures will strengthen and the country may become a leader in the region.