Necessity of 2015 constitutional reforms will be proved by time, Republicans say

ArmenPress
Aug 29 2018


Necessity of 2015 constitutional reforms will be proved by time, Republicans say



YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Republicans disagree with former
President Robert Kocharyan’s opinion whereby former President Serzh
Sargsyan failed because of the Constitutional reforms and the attempt
to take office as prime minister, Republican Party (HHK) spokesperson
Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters today in the parliament.

Sharmazanov, who also serves as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said
that Kocharyan’s opinions about the Constitutional reforms aren’t new.

“Oppositionists of the constitutional reforms, including Robert
Kocharyan, have expressed their assessments. I can only reiterate my
opinion and our party’s opinion: there was a necessity for the
constitutional reforms and for transitioning into a parliamentary
system of administration, and I find it to be a very positive step in
terms of strengthening democracy and national security in Armenia.
Time will show that the complete transition into a parliamentary
system stemmed from priorities of state security and state interest,”
Sharmazanov said.

He also disagrees with Kocharyan over the latter’s opinion that Serzh
Sargsyan amended the Constitution to rule for a third term. According
to Sharmazanov, Serzh Sargsyan’s April 17 election stemmed out of
state interests of Armenia.

“At that time the HHK garnered political majority in the election and
according to the Constitution we had to decide whom to entrust the
office of prime minister. We in our team do not have a more prepared,
more wise, more experienced figure to realize national security and
protect Artsakh’s interest other than Serzh Sargsyan,” Sharmazanov
said.

However, Sharmazanov also did not rule out that Republicans might
cooperate with Robert Kocharyan despite the disagreements over the
abovementioned issues.

“We have our political agenda, we are ready to struggle for the
strengthening of the Republic of Armenia together with all those
figures who share our opinion. Our struggle isn’t against any
particular one, but rather for the strengthening of our homeland,” he
said.

Eduard Sharmazanov also noted that Kocharyan has still things to say
and do in politics.

In an interview to the Russian NTV, former President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan had said that Sargsyan’s failure and the revolution of April
was caused by the Constitutional reforms initiated by Sargsyan himself
and his aspiration to maintain power for a third term.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan