US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1764

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001764 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DRL AND EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, AM 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN TAKES OWNERSHIP OF NEW 
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS 
 
 
1.  On September 30, at a conference to mark the 10th 
Anniversary of the Adoption of the Armenian 
Constitution and the Formation of the Constitutional 
Court, President Kocharian emphasized the importance of 
upcoming Constitutional Reforms to the establishment of 
rule of law in Armenia.  In his remarks (informal 
Embassy translation below,) President Kocharian gave 
his strongest endorsement to date to the package of 
Constitutional Amendments, now final after a September 
29 "third reading" in parliament. 
 
2. Begin text of informal Embassy translation: 
 
Yerevan, September 30, 2005 
 
Dear participants, 
 
I am glad that over the past decade it has become a 
tradition for Yerevan to host international conferences 
on constitutional justice.  This time we are 
celebrating a jubilee and given the composition of 
participants and the urgency of issues on the agenda, I 
believe that this conference will make a considerable 
theoretical and practical contribution. 
 
Armenia is heading towards serious constitutional 
reforms.  The experience of numerous countries shows 
that constitutional stagnation is dangerous.  Being 
experts, you are well aware that constitutional 
solutions should be in tune with societal developments 
and foster them. 
 
Our current Constitution played a significant role in 
developing, and making irreversible, democracy in 
Armenia, thereby allowing our country to become a 
member of the Council of Europe.  In applying the 
Constitution, however, it became apparent that the 
document contained serious conceptual drawbacks which 
created obstacles for further democratic development of 
the country.  Now we need to establish constitutional 
guarantees for rule of law and due process. 
 
We have held fruitful discussions for a number of years 
with European institutions, including the Venice 
Commission and now, we are nearing the finishing post. 
Soon we will learn the decision of our people 
concerning the draft constitutional amendments.  This 
draft document ensures that we will make considerable 
progress in guaranteeing human rights, promoting the 
separation of powers and assuring that our system 
contains checks and balances.  It provides greater 
independence for the judicial branch and brings more 
autonomy to local governments. 
 
Our goal is to make the Constitution a living reality. 
It should be more accessible for each citizen of the 
country.  Rule of law and due process should become the 
focus of a public life structured on liberal values. 
This is imperative now. 
 
I believe that discussions at this conference will 
focus on our reality and will help society to fully 
realize the importance of constitutional developments. 
It is beyond any doubt that the conference will receive 
wide international publicity. 
 
Thank you for visiting Armenia and taking part at this 
anniversary event.  I wish you successful work at the 
conference and hope that you enjoy your stay in 
Armenia. 
 
End text. 
 
EVANS