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On September 17 the RA National Assembly continued the work of the four-day sittings.

The deputies continued debating the on RA Draft Constitutional Amendments.

The parliamentarians continued addressing to the key speaker, Vardan Poghosyan, member of the Specialized Commission for Constitutional Amendments adjunct to the RA President .

The issues mainly related to the activities of the Commission for Constitutional Amendments, right to property, holding of the second phase of the elections of the National Assembly, human rights,  holding of the elections through proportional elections, number of deputies, authorities of the Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces, activities of the NGOs.

The Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Hovhannes Sahakyan gave a speech. He has noted that the draft has been thoroughly debated both at the sitting of the Committee and during the parliamentary hearings organized by the Committee, interpellations and numerous recommendations were presented. According to Hovhannes Sahakyan, as a result of the three-day debates the key speaker has detailed that the provisions which have been included in the draft Constitution, has been clarified. By the Committee Chairman’s assessment, the draft is a result of serious amendments and tough work. The Committee endorsed the draft.

The NA deputies delivered speeches on the draft law.

According to Gagik Jhangiryan, it is necessary to use any legal act in life for improving and revising it, and whether the current Constitution is fully called into life in real life. The deputy also talked about the parliamentary system of government and presented their approaches. In Vahe Enfiajyan’s opinion, the functions of the RA President, the NA and the government are specified by the draft law. The deputy has informed that the PAP Faction submitted professional recommendations on the draft. In Aram Manukyan's opinion, all the systems of government are good, if they truly reflect the situation of the given country, the challenges facing it and offer right solutions for that time. However, according to the deputy, today there is no necessity of change for the system of government in Armenia.

The NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov delivered an extraordinary speech. He has noted that the package under debate is very important not only for the deputies, but also for the society and future generations. Noting that the parliament is a tribune of pluralism, he urged to respect each other’s opinions. According to the NA Deputy Speaker, the events of the recent months and the debates of the constitutional reforms draft showed that the issue of the constitutional reforms is important and pressing, but not artificial, as through many months  some opposition members claim. To his observation, representatives of some political parties talked about political boycott, which failed. In this context the NA Deputy Speaker opined that the parliamentary hearings and the current debates show that the debates held by all political factions serve as evidence that the boycott failed.

The second fact, the meetings of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan with the representatives of different political forces showed that there is political consolidation around this draft and there is no faction the representatives of which have not met with the President and discussed this most important issue.

In Eduard Sharmazanov’s opinion, the draft makes the very parliamentary system  incomparably more democratic. The constitutional reforms' draft is important, and it is natural that there will also be people against it. He has noted that the draft raises the role of opposition, provides political pluralism in the parliament, gives an opportunity to the opposition, why not the society to make legislative initiatives.

Ara Babloyan welcomed the submitted reforms which are directed to the strengthening of democracy, proposed to affirm in the draft that everyone has the right to the maintenance of health and the mechanisms should be set out by law, the execution of right to maintenance of health should be provided. According to Artak Zakaryan, in order to have good Constitution it is necessary to take into consideration also the international experience, analyze their weak and strong points. The deputy expressed conviction that the Specialized Commission succeeded to establish all the peculiarities by the draft which should differentiate the RA Constitution from other constitutions. Vahan Babayan has noted that in the PAP Faction the issue is under debate, and he will vote for the constitutional reforms, say ‘yes’ to the political generation change and the elimination of the political monopoly. Samvel Nikoyan has stated that the Constitution is a document of public consent, recording with satisfaction that in terms of getting an agreement sufficient work has been done. By Nikoyan’s conviction, no problem for a person is solved by the constitutional amendments, and this is done for the future of the state. Sukias Avetisyan also highly assessed the work done by the Specialized Commission, particularly, in terms of awareness for the public. The deputy has expressed conviction that the process of the reforms has passed in an unprecedented high atmosphere of pluralism and consolidation. Nikol Pashinyan has opined that this process has been organized for destroying the opposition field, and he will vote against the draft. By Shirak Torosyan’s assessment, we should not personalize the problem concerning the development of the country. Touching upon the parliamentary system of government he has noted that in that system the parliamentary parties will have their own participation in the process of the government of the country. Ending his speech, Mr Torosyan has reminded that there is a possibility for referendum, and the people will say their word. Artak Davtyan, touching upon the deputies’ concerns on the necessity of constitutional reforms, pointing to the historical facts substantiated its necessity. He referred to some interpellations sounded at the sitting and submitted his considerations. By Levon Zurabyan’s conviction, the power tries to hide the political essence of the process. He has referred to the system of government and stated that the authorities’ claim is false that by constitutional reforms the Constitution is complied with the standards of European democracy. He highlighted the holding of independent and free elections irrespective of the constitutional system of government. Gagik Melikyan has stated that the Constitution is the most political and legal document which pursues a goal of political stability, and it is a statute of a political game. To his conviction the constitutional amendments draft gives an opportunity of political competition to all political forces and getting them reproduced. By Heghine Bisharyan’s assessment, we should amend the Constitution, when there is public demand, whereas there is no demand for that in our country. She has added that the very goal of the constitutional amendments should be bringing about positive changes in the people’s life, meanwhile the answer of the questions whether these amendments will have qualitative influence on our people and on our country. Ruzanna Muradyan talked about the positive changes proposed by the new draft, particularly, the authorities given to the opposition and the participation of the public in the government process of the country. She has underlined that the provisions of the political programmes of almost all parties are included in the draft.

The debate of the issue will continue at the NA extraordinary sitting.

The National Assembly ended the work of the four-day sittings.

Let us remind that on September 18, at 11:00 the parliament will convene an extraordinary sitting.