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KARABAKH CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNANCE
Lragir.am
22 July 06
On July 21 Edward Aghabekyan, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the past 6 months. During the news
conference he made a number of interesting statements. For instance,
the mayor of Stepanakert says the draft Constitution of Karabakh
makes think that it was written hastily. "As if we are in a hurry,"
said Edward Aghabekyan. The draft is imperfect, especially with regard
to the institution of local government. There is not a clear division
of powers. "First they said the draft provides for semi-presidential
governance but I did not find any signs of semi-presidential governance
there," said Edward Aghabekyan.
Edward Aghabelyan was elected mayor of Stepanakert two years ago in
tense struggle with a pro-governmental candidate. He is the leader
of Movement 88 Party, which allied with Dashnaktsutiun, forming the
only opposition faction in the National Assembly with three members
of parliament.
When Aghabekyan was elected mayor despite the plans of the government,
experts said the government would do everything to prove that
Aghabekyan is unable to settle problems. Such an attitude of the
government is evident. It became known, for instance, that this year
the government cut subsidies to communities by 30 percent.
"With such a growth of the GDP cutting subsidies cannot be explained,"
said Edward Aghabekyan. Moreover, it became known that the cut-down
included the most sensitive social programs, namely repair of roofs
of buildings damaged during the war, and repair of houses of killed
liberation soldiers. After the war out of 263 blocks of Stepanakert
the roofs of 26 buildings were repaired only. The problem is urgent for
the people of Stepanakert, and it may give rise to a social protest.
According to the mayor, although the parliament adopted the law
on local governments in 1998, the powers and duties of government
agencies and municipalities are not clearly set down thereby enabling
abuse. The mayor says the powers of local government must be broader.
Lragir.am
22 July 06
On July 21 Edward Aghabekyan, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the past 6 months. During the news
conference he made a number of interesting statements. For instance,
the mayor of Stepanakert says the draft Constitution of Karabakh
makes think that it was written hastily. "As if we are in a hurry,"
said Edward Aghabekyan. The draft is imperfect, especially with regard
to the institution of local government. There is not a clear division
of powers. "First they said the draft provides for semi-presidential
governance but I did not find any signs of semi-presidential governance
there," said Edward Aghabekyan.
Edward Aghabelyan was elected mayor of Stepanakert two years ago in
tense struggle with a pro-governmental candidate. He is the leader
of Movement 88 Party, which allied with Dashnaktsutiun, forming the
only opposition faction in the National Assembly with three members
of parliament.
When Aghabekyan was elected mayor despite the plans of the government,
experts said the government would do everything to prove that
Aghabekyan is unable to settle problems. Such an attitude of the
government is evident. It became known, for instance, that this year
the government cut subsidies to communities by 30 percent.
"With such a growth of the GDP cutting subsidies cannot be explained,"
said Edward Aghabekyan. Moreover, it became known that the cut-down
included the most sensitive social programs, namely repair of roofs
of buildings damaged during the war, and repair of houses of killed
liberation soldiers. After the war out of 263 blocks of Stepanakert
the roofs of 26 buildings were repaired only. The problem is urgent for
the people of Stepanakert, and it may give rise to a social protest.
According to the mayor, although the parliament adopted the law
on local governments in 1998, the powers and duties of government
agencies and municipalities are not clearly set down thereby enabling
abuse. The mayor says the powers of local government must be broader.