European bodies hail Armenian draft constitutional reforms

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
3 Aug 05

[Presenter] The adoption of a new constitution will facilitate
Armenian’s integration into Europe. The draft constitutional amendments
submitted by the ruling coalition of Armenia contain readable
improvements. However, opposition’s decision to refuse participating
in the discussion of the constitutional amendments means that the
opposition sends the ball to its own gate, representatives of European
international organizations today told a joint press conference to
express their satisfaction with the constitutional reforms.

The success of the process will demonstrate the Armenia’s maturity
in the political field. The opposition has to show that it is ready
to make concessions, the representatives of the EU, the Council of
Europe and the OSCE said.

[Correspondent, over video of press conference] The draft
constitutional amendments submitted by the Armenian authorities
contain readable improvements in the constitution and is a good basis
for guaranteeing the activity of democratic institutions in Armenia.
All organizations representing the European community in Armenia agree
with the [Council of Europe’s] Venice Commission’s positive assessment.

The offices of the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE in Yerevan
as well as the embassies of the USA and Britain, which is the holder
of the EU presidency, held the joint press conference in order to
express their satisfaction with the constitutional reforms.

The special representative of the Council of Europe secretary-general
in Armenia, Bojana Urumova, on behalf of the Council of Europe thanked
the Armenian authorities and experts who had worked to ensure this
success with regard to the constitutional reforms.

[Bojana Urumova in English with Armenian voice-over] In its
assessment, the Venice Commission, has noted the good will of the
Armenian authorities for speeding up the process of the constitutional
amendments and expected that this draft would be adopted in the second
reading [in the parliament] without serious changes. Another task is
to organize a campaign which will ensure the success of a referendum
in November. The adoption of a new constitution will facilitate
Armenian’s integration into Europe.

[Correspondent] We agree with the Venice Commission’s conclusion,
the British ambassador to Armenia, Thorda Abbott-Watt, said. She is
representing the EU in Armenia.

[Thorda Abbott-Watt in English with Armenian voice-over] I
am representing other EU countries as well because of Britain’s
presidency in the EU. My counterparts from these countries are here
today. I welcome the Venice Commission’s positive assessment of the
draft constitutional amendments. This draft would bring Armenia closer
to democratic values and facilitate Armenia’s integration into Europe.

[Correspondent] As a result of the work done, a reformed constitution
was presented, the head of the OSCE mission in Yerevan, Vladimir
Pryakhin, said.

[Pryakhin in English with Armenian voice-over] The constitutional
amendments which are one of Armenia’s commitments to the international
organizations will serve the interests of the Armenian public. I thank
authors for its work. This constitution will be better for Armenia.

[Correspondent] Although the USA is not a member of the Council of
Europe, we have been supporting the democratic processes in Armenia
for a long time, the US deputy ambassador to Armenia, Anthony Godfrey,
stressed.

[Godfrey in English with Armenian voice-over] We expect that a new
constitution will be endorsed at a referendum in November. We hail
Armenia’s progress towards democratic and constitutional reforms. But
the process has not been completed, and we sure that the Armenian
government will do its best to initiate active discussions. We also
expect constructive discussions at the Armenian National Assembly
due in October.

[Passage omitted: reiteration of same ideas]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress