On September 30, at the National Assembly, a “roundtable” related to the draft amendments of the RA Constitution adopted by the Parliament, its awareness in the wide circles of the society, effective preparing to the referendum was organized, in which the representatives of the political and international organizations, NGO, the representatives of the Constitutional Courts from different countries participated.

NA Vice President Tigran Torosyan presiding the session estimated the present process of the amendments in the Constitution as the beginning of the working new stage, when the draft after RA President’s signing should seriously began the works for the referendum, which, first of all, supposes with the participation of the public wide ranged discussion for the development of our country about the role and significance of the constitutional amendments. Mr. Torosyan thanked all those representatives of the Council of Europe/CE/, the Venice Commission, political organizations, NGOs, who have brought their investment for the creation and the improvement of the draft.

By the estimation of NA President Artur Baghdasaryan, the draft amendments of the Constitution is the result of serious and long-lasting discussions, clashes of the opinions and agreement, which expresses the viewpoints and proposals of different political and public organizations, the international authoritative structures. With a number of directions the draft records a progress and gives possibility to provide a balance of power wings, protection of human rights, improvements of judiciary system and effective work of the local self- government bodies. Mr. Baghdasaryan noted that the attitude towards to these amendments isn’t the same, there are for, against viewpoints, there are people, who aren’t informed and there are those, who speculate, who weren’t ready to listen to the arguments. One should work with everybody and do everything for the fair and transparent referendum.

Giovanni Buquicchio, the General Secretary of the Venice Commission noted that the Council of Europe was interested to see welfare and democratic country, which will have the Constitution, contributing to all of it. It’s preferable that Armenia chooses the evolutional, democratic way of development, than the revolutionary way. He expressed a hope that the Armenian people is able to amend its acting Constitution, which today impedes the further development of the country. The positive solution of adopting the draft by the referendum in the political and economic life will provide progress because the proposed amendment of the Constitution gives guarantees of the protection of human rights, separation and balance of power wings, the independence of judiciary system.

Referring to the history of improvement of the draft constitutional amendments, Mr. Buquicchio noted that the Venice Commission expressed dissatisfaction on the version passed in the first reading, but subsequently displayed political will and in the result of jointly work, where also wasn’t little the opposition’s role, they’ve reached this acceptable version. It doesn’t mean that the document is perfect, because one can’t have a perfect document. “If subsequently there is need of changes, the CE will be at your side. As the English say, you should taste to know it is good or not,” concluded Mr. Buquicchio.

Aivars Endzins, member of the Venice Commission, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Latvia noted that he didn’t know a Constitution of any country that is a criterion of perfection - each Constitution may be improved. You should forget the political ambitions and look forward, emanating from the benefits of the country and the people and from their perspective of development. That should be done by leveling the disagreements.

By the estimation of Vladimir Priakhin, Head of the OSCE Yerevan Office, the adopted draft of the National Assembly is a good basis for the democratic development of the country, but regarding the referendum, that should comply with the international standards, in which also will support their Office.