DO NOT COMPARE US WITH IRAQ

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| 18:14:17 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |

Today during the discussions of the constitutional amendments the
NA hall was almost empty. Though speeches by the opposition deputies
aroused some interest, during the speeches by the coalition members
the hall became quite empty.

The opposition deputies have worked out a serious tactic and each of
them uncovered the faults of the draft from various aspects. According
to Shavarsh Kocharyan, the fact that the U.S. compares Armenia
with Iraq, on which it is now trying to impose the adoption of the
Constitution, is humiliating for Armenia.

He stated that the international structures approve the draft not
because it is good but because they do not have other expectations. In
his words, this does not do us credit, taking into account that we have
the constitution written by Shahamir Shahamiryan in the 19th century.

DECEIT OCCIDENTALLY

Noting that the draft items conflict with one another NA deputy
Arshak Sadoyan states that the “occidental form of deceit” is being
implemented. “Is it hard to fix that despite the constitutional
amendments one person cannot run for president three times.

Independent deputy Hmayak Hovhanissyan is battling against the
expansion of the Prime Minister’s authority. In his words, presently
the President has less authority than the Premier appointed by the
oligarchic majority.

PRESIDENT’S GRATITUDE

National Unity Secretary Alexan Karapetyan emphasized that the
Constitutional Court is empowered with ultimate authority. In his
words, in this way Robert Kocharyan “covers up” the debt to the CC,
which saved him in 1998 and 2003.

CONSTITUTION BETRAYS HOMELAND?

Aram G. Sargsyan touched upon the clause on land sale, due to which
“our homeland can go to the enemy’s hands in the near future”. He
also pointed out to the technical faults, for example the expression
stating that “The Constitution is adopted by the Armenian people via
referendum”. “Considerable number of Armenian people are members of
the Diaspora and cannot take part in the referendum”, he noted.