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If majority does not want to change constitution, no need to do it

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  • If majority does not want to change constitution, no need to do it

    A1plus

    | 11:10:30 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

    IF MAJORITY DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION, NO NEED TO DO IT

    Our interlocutor is Tigran Hakopyan, who was once an official at power and
    worked for the Constitution but then was dismissed for abusing the
    authority. After exceeding the admissible bounds of propaganda he was
    dismissed from the post of chairman of the State Committee on TV and Radio.

    Tigran Hakobyan is convinced that the amendments to the Constitution will
    change nothing in the republic, since if the operating Constitution is
    violated, the reformed one will be violated as well. Nevertheless, the
    constitutional reform is approaching its logical end. But in T. Hakobyan's
    opinion, there are no discussions held and the society is not aware what
    Armenia will benefit from this or that amendment. `Let's take the clause on
    dual citizenship. Some are for it, others are against. But I have heard
    nothing but empty talk on this issue', he noted. `Should the Mayor of
    Yerevan be elected or not? I do not know what is correct, since there is no
    debate on the topic. If in future proper officials willing to carry out
    reforms come to power, they will appoint a figure to work in team and
    implement a part of these reforms. If normal President is elected but mafia
    clans decide to advance their candidate, he can upset the reforms, since in
    Yerevan resistance of elected Mayor to reforms can be disastrous. Being a RA
    citizen I was not explained why it is good or bad', he said.

    Tigran Hakobyan is convinced that sometimes an appointed body functions
    better than an elected, because he bears responsibility not to the people
    but to those, who appointed him. `Look at our parliament or
    local-self-government bodies. Presently in Armenia, when a civic society has
    not been formed yet and when votes can be `bought' elective bodies do not
    always work efficiently.

    Tigran Hakobyan is concerned over the fact that not lawyers but politicians
    are discussing the Constitution. `The preparation for the adoption of the
    first Constitution was a brilliant example of juridical debate, since all
    the lawyers in Armenia whether pro-governmental or oppositional were
    involved in the process. Today only several politicians are discussing the
    issue', he said.

    The Constitution will be changed via referendum. Whether this `national
    examination' is correct or was the parliament capable of passing all these
    changes? However Tigran Hakobyan is not satisfied either with the mentality
    of today's electorate or the National Assembly.

    He also considers the demand, according to which minimum 1/3 of the votes is
    enough to pass the referendum to be not strict enough. `If the most
    important law is being adopted, people should be interested and take part in
    the election. If the majority does not see the necessity of changing the
    Constitution, there is not need in it', he resumed.

    Diana Markosyan
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