Republican Party of Armenia

 The President of the RA National Assembly Galust Sahakyan discussed issues regarding the necessity of the coming legislative amendments after the approval of the Constitutional Amendments, as a result of the RA Draft Constitutional Amendments, coming referendum, as well as issues regarding the necessity of the coming legislative amendments with the President of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Gianni Buquicchio. On October 23 the member of the Venice Commission Bureau Gagik Harutyunyan also attended the meeting.

In the course of the meeting the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan once again thanked the Venice Commission for its great professional support. Talking about the coming referendum of the Constitutional Amendments, the NA President assured that the RA authorities will do their best and hold the referendum in accordance with the democratic standards. “I am sure that the referendum will record positive result, as in the already started “no” campaign no real criticism on the content is noticeable,” noted Galust Sahakyan.

The Head of the Parliament also presented Gianni Buquicchio that after the Constitutional Amendments there will arise a necessity to amend about three hundred laws, from which the Electoral Code and the law “On Parties” are the key ones. “We expect the practical support of the Venice Commission in the works of making these main draft laws,” Galust Sahakyan noted particularly in his speech.

The RA NA President has informed the President of the Venice Commission that the ruling political force is already getting ready for the referendum campaign, during which the draft under proposal will be introduced to the public article by article.

The President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio once again has documented that the draft under proposal completely corresponds to the international standards of democracy. “One of the numerous items on the agenda of today’s session available is the Constitutional Amendments of the Republic of Armenia, as all the participants of the session are convinced that we have received a good result,” noted the President of the Venice Commission. He has assured that the Commission is ready to support the Republic of Armenia in the further legislative activities, particularly the processes of the revision of the draft laws regarding the Electoral and Judicial Codes, the local self-government and parties.

The member of the Venice Commission Bureau Gagik Harutyunyan has informed Galust Sahakyan that the works around the mentioned draft laws will be done by the same principle, as it was in case of the Draft Constitutional Amendments, i.e. the Venice Commission will have professional participation in this case.

At the end of the meeting Gianni Buquicchio noted: “I am convinced that the Armenian people will be wise and will vote for the proposed draft.”