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Constitutional debates have to be within professional domain - lawyer
12:44 * 14.03.15
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/vardanayvazian/1616578
In an interview with Tert.am, an Armenian expert specialized in
constitutional law commented upon the Government-proposed
constitutional amendments and their accessibility and
undersandandability to wide public circles.
Vardan Ayvazyan said he sees an essential progress in the concept on
table, adding that its implementation requires also a proper
understanding by the political parties and the society.
"What we call constitutional reforms is understood neither by the
political parties nor especially the ordinary citizens," he said. "By
saying they do not understand, I don't mean they aren't able to. It
has an objective character; the citizens cannot, naturally, fully
understand and perceive [the concept]. A referendum to adopt or change
the Constitution does not imply that it is better or has a higher
quality than [a constitution] adopted without a referendum. In
Constitution in the United States or Germany, for instance, was not
adopted or amended through a referendum, but that doesn't mean that
their society isn't good nor never understands the processes," he
explained.
The specialist said he thinks that a major problem in Armenia is the
political forces' attempt to pursue private (vs public) interests in
constitutional debates.
"They neither understand anything nor even try to; what they see is
just potential individual gains or losses. So therefore the debates
have to be within the professional domain to allow specialists or
political parties (if they have the necessary intellectual resources
well-aware of the process) to express views," he added.
Ayvazatan said he hasn't so far heard any scientific or professional
approach voiced at the debates, with all the opinions being limited to
narrow political interests.
Commenting on positive expectations, the specialist once again
stressed the importance of developing the right understanding to the
process. "Given that Constitution is a systemic phenomenon, the
changes improve and strengthen the state structure's mechanism. But
changes alone will not offer any benefit to us unless their meaning is
understood by all, both the authorities and the ordinary citizen," he
added.
12:44 * 14.03.15
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/vardanayvazian/1616578
In an interview with Tert.am, an Armenian expert specialized in
constitutional law commented upon the Government-proposed
constitutional amendments and their accessibility and
undersandandability to wide public circles.
Vardan Ayvazyan said he sees an essential progress in the concept on
table, adding that its implementation requires also a proper
understanding by the political parties and the society.
"What we call constitutional reforms is understood neither by the
political parties nor especially the ordinary citizens," he said. "By
saying they do not understand, I don't mean they aren't able to. It
has an objective character; the citizens cannot, naturally, fully
understand and perceive [the concept]. A referendum to adopt or change
the Constitution does not imply that it is better or has a higher
quality than [a constitution] adopted without a referendum. In
Constitution in the United States or Germany, for instance, was not
adopted or amended through a referendum, but that doesn't mean that
their society isn't good nor never understands the processes," he
explained.
The specialist said he thinks that a major problem in Armenia is the
political forces' attempt to pursue private (vs public) interests in
constitutional debates.
"They neither understand anything nor even try to; what they see is
just potential individual gains or losses. So therefore the debates
have to be within the professional domain to allow specialists or
political parties (if they have the necessary intellectual resources
well-aware of the process) to express views," he added.
Ayvazatan said he hasn't so far heard any scientific or professional
approach voiced at the debates, with all the opinions being limited to
narrow political interests.
Commenting on positive expectations, the specialist once again
stressed the importance of developing the right understanding to the
process. "Given that Constitution is a systemic phenomenon, the
changes improve and strengthen the state structure's mechanism. But
changes alone will not offer any benefit to us unless their meaning is
understood by all, both the authorities and the ordinary citizen," he
added.