Associated Press Worldstream
Sept 28 2005

Armenian parliament, minus opposition, approves constitutional
amendments

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.