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NKR: First Debates On Construction Involving Political Forces

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  • NKR: First Debates On Construction Involving Political Forces

    FIRST DEBATES ON CONSTITUTION INVOLVING POLITICAL FORCES
    Srbuhi Vanian

    Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
    Oct 3 2006

    On September 28 the National Assembly kicked off debates on the draft
    Constitution of NKR. The first debates involved the representatives
    of political forces and parliament factions. It should be noted that
    this is going to be the first Constitution of our republic, and this
    fact was appreciated by everyone present (independent from their
    opinion about the draft). The debates were conducted by the chair
    of the Defense, Security and Legality Committee Rudolf Martirosian,
    the chair of the State and Legal Committee Yuri Hairapetian, and
    the head of the Task Force on Constitution Armen Zalinian. Speaker
    Ashot Ghulian was present too. The text of the draft Constitution was
    presented to the members of parliament, organizations and political
    parties several months ago, and they had time to study the draft and
    come up with proposals and questions during the debates. The members
    of parliament long discussed the draft and did not reach agreement
    on the way of organizing the debates. Member of Parliament Maxim
    Mirzoyan said it would be expedient to discuss every chapter of the
    draft separately because it is the basic document of the country and
    is intended for a long period. "There should be consistency in every
    action. Especially in this case. We should not be afraid of not being
    recognized. Let us shake off all the complexes and discuss it part by
    part considering the regional, political and military peculiarities,"
    he said. Everyone appeared to approve the proposal, but Ashot Ghulian
    said the shortage of time may not allow this. "The debates, in fact,
    must underlie the adoption of the Constitution, but we are obliged
    to take into account the time. It does not depend on our desire
    and wish," said the speaker of the National Assembly. It became
    known that the first reading of the draft will be in early October,
    and it may be adopted at the end of the same month. In the middle
    of the debates two or three people left the hall demonstratively,
    and the remaining participants presented their proposals and
    evaluations. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun put forward a number of questions
    connected with the activities of the local governments (they say the
    governors should be elected), human rights and civil rights. It was
    mentioned that our system of government is saturated and certain posts
    could be eliminated. Besides, it was emphasized that the parliament
    majority should name the prime minister. Besides, an individual at a
    government office should be a citizen of NKR. "This must be set down
    in the Constitution to empower the parliament to give a vote of no
    confidence to one minister or another," said V. Balayan. A. Zalinian
    said for the citizenship of a high-ranking government official that
    thus the deep love and care of Armenians living outside the country
    is doubted. Meanwhile, the adoption of the Constitution will provide
    a quite new model of forming executive power to our state, where
    the role of the National Assembly will be enhanced. A. Zalinian
    elucidated the questions about territorial integrity and borders
    put forward by A. Mosiyan. Edward Aghabekian, ARF Dashnaktsutyun -
    Movement 88 Alliance wondered if the Constitution enables people to
    elect their government and participate in the activities of these
    authorities. Member of the Alliance A. Sargissian pointed out the
    shortage of time as the greatest drawback in adopting the Constitution,
    and proposed holding debates involving the political parties, which
    are not represented in the parliament. "The Constitution must first
    of all be written for us, for our life, not for displaying it to
    the world. In my opinion, it should solve national and territorial
    problems, sustain democracy, marking its viable forms for our country,
    and decentralize policies," he said.

    Although there was disappointment (several members of parliament
    left the hall), during the first debates Armen Zalinian called for
    more responsible and balanced approach to the continuing debates on
    the constitution. "The Constitution must be the product of efforts
    by everyone of us, because it is our present and future," he said.
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