ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AGAIN EXPLAINS ITS DECISION

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS: Despite the fact that the
Constitutional Court of Armenia and its chairman for many times
commented and explained the Court’s decision No. 412, dated
16.04.2003, concerning the referendum on trust to the president of
Armenia, the attempts to interpret the decision continue. According
to the press office of the Constitutional Court of Armenia these
attempts pursue political goals or result from unawareness of
constitutional justice.

The statement issued today by the press office says that the
Constitutional Court of Armenia upheld the decision of Central
Electoral Commission of Armenia No. 36-A, dated 11.03.2003, concerning
the results of presidential elections. This decision is final and
compulsory.

“When regulating a state argument, the Constitutional Court has
togive a concrete legal solution to the issue and to outline the legal
ways of regulation of social, political issues, which are of a great
importance forthe country’s legal, democratic development, basing on
the existing realities. The Constitutional Court stressed in its
decision that the possible public confrontation may greatly endanger
our country. The confrontation must be overcome democratically, one of
the ways of which is holding of a referendum, which supposes direct
usage of democracy’s potential. This was underlined as a proposal,
which is not compulsory and brings no legal consequences”, is said in
the release.

It is also stated that the Court made no decision concerning the
constitutionality of Law on Referendum. In the context of its proposal
the Court focus ed the attention of the National Assembly on this
issue, taking into consideration the European development in this
sphere.

“Currently more than 110 Constitutional Court are operating in
theworld and their decisions, without exception, contain both
imperative and additional norms. Thus the Constitutional Court of
Armenia requests to see its decision only from legal point and refrain
from making it a subject for political speculations”, says the
statement.