Armenian opposition splits over constitutional reform – agency

Regnum, Moscow
18 Aug 05

[No dateline as received] The opposition Justice bloc does not see
any reason to take a positive position on the forthcoming referendum
on constitutional changes in Armenia. However, members of the bloc
decided at a meeting on 18 August to attend an extraordinary sitting
of parliament on 29 August. The sitting is due to discuss the package
of constitutional changes.

Among the members of the bloc, only the Republic Party did not back
this decision. Three MPs representing the party do not intend to stop
boycotting sittings of parliament, which they announced immediately
after the 2003 election. The party leader, Aram Sarkisyan, told
reporters that the party will keep to its position announced earlier
and is still saying “no” to the constitutional reform.

He said the position of other members of the bloc is close to that
of his party. “The Justice bloc today does not see any reason to say
‘yes’ in the referendum on the constitution,” he said.

The secretary of the Justice bloc, Viktor Dallakyan, has confirmed
that the opposition has no reason to back the referendum as almost
all their proposals have been rejected.

The opposition Justice bloc is comprised of nine parties and has 14
seats in parliament.