Armenian Parliament, Minus Opposition,Approves Constitutional Amendm

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT, MINUS OPPOSITION, APPROVES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The Associated Press
09/28/05 08:59 EDT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – The Armenian parliament on Wednesday gave
final approval to constitutional amendments intended to impose a
more strict separation of powers between the judicial, executive and
legislative branches.

The proposed changes also include removal of a clause outlawing dual
citizenship for members of Armenia’s large foreign Diaspora.

The package of changes passed by a vote of 89-0, with one abstention.

The 24 opposition deputies, however, boycotted the vote, just as they
have boycotted most sessions of parliament on the grounds that their
proposals were not taken into account.

The opposition has called on Armenians to reject the amendments in
a late November referendum.