"NO, TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS"

The position of the Armenian National Movement probably will be in this way.

While the parliamentary opposition is inspired with the fact of making the RA authorities the suggestions on the RA Constitutional reforms by the PACE Commission of Venice the ANM continues criticizing that document. Yesterday the ANM member Aram Manukian declared that the ANM will carry out anti-propaganda against adopting those amendments and will call to the public to vote against the constitutional amendments.
The first reason of this refusal Aram Manukian considered during the interview with us some basic points that the European institutions had overlooked. One of these is the absence of the part of the 117 article of the Constitution where it is said, "the day of adopting the Constitution is declared as a holiday "The Constitution Day". Being sure that it is a guileful idea Mr. Manukian elucidated: "We will carry out anti-propaganda and will call to vote against those amendments because that document is a political document first of all. And in the result of that political action in case of adopting that document we know R. Kocharian can get a interpretation from the RA Constitutional Court as if it is a new Constitution and to be the RA presidential candidate again. It is the apprehension number 1 which is much more important than our other disagreements,"- Mr. Manoukian said adding that adopting the constitutional amendments isn't also permissible for the reason that the public doesn't know those amendments, the authorities aren't legitimate, and the "Electoral Code" isn't prefect. "But these all are less than the apprehension which exists round the reproduction of this authority,"- A. Manukian stressed.
To our question whether the ANM position is changed towards those amendments if R. Kocharian promises like a gentleman that he won't nominate his candidacy after adopting those amendments, the member of ANM administration declared; "We won't believe in that promise."
The next inadmissible position in the constitutional amendments for the ANM refers to the removal of prevention of double citizenship. "That issue must be discussed in three fields- defense, tax system and electoral institution. There are conceptual and systemized omissions in all versions produced in last two years. We have spoken about the dangers of double citizenship that how dangerous the amortization of the land is. And the participation of the double citizens in the elections threatens the self-governing of our country. But today we stress on the danger of reproduction of the authority. The time will come and we'll produce to the society all those dangers which exist in the basis of those changes,"- A. Manukian said.
Speaking on other inadmissible amendment according to which the elections of local self-governing must be held once in five years, Mr. Manukian reminded that the elections of local self-governing are held once in three years, the elections of the parliament once in four years, the elections of the president are held once in five years. "The rotation of the authority will worsen after adopting the coalition package as the won power will determine the activity of supreme, legislative and local authority,"- A. Manukian stressed.
To our question if the PACE takes the ANM's position into consideration Mr. Manukian answered: "We are for Western values but it doesn't mean that it must be at the expense of threatens to Armenia and our state system. Pro-Armenian position is more principal for us and if there is any necessity to criticize the Europeans we don't have any complex."

Naira Mamikonian