On August 19 the joint press conference of PACE President Rene van der Linden and NA President Artur Baghdasaryan was held.

NA President Artur Baghdasaryan welcomed the cooperation of PACE and the Armenian authorities and noted that in the constitutional process the visit of such high ranking official is of great significance for country, especially during this period, when the draft of the constitutional reforms will be discussed at the extraordinary session of the parliament in the second reading. NA President highlighted the work done on the draft of the constitutional reforms with the Venice Commission. Mr. Baghdasaryan noted that the democracy is not merely a word, but deed, and the deepening of the democratic reforms should be started from the Basic Law of the country. He expressed a hope that the Armenian authorities jointly with PACE and Venice Commission will make constitutional reforms.

PACE President Rene van der Linden highlighted his visit to Armenia and informed that PACE works with all interested parties. PACE President expressed a hope that the political forces will come to common agreement on the constitutional amendments and highlighted the joint work of the opposition and power in the aspect of the improvements in the draft of the constitutional reforms as all the forces have great responsibility towards RA citizens: “This will be evidence that Armenia is on the way of becoming a democratic state,” said Rene van der Linden. He highlighted the awareness of the people on the constitutional amendments, the effective campaign of the Constitution that the people will understand how much the process of the reforms is important and necessary for the further development of the country. The speaker noted that PACE addressed the Armenian authorities for specifying the electoral rolls and punishing those who rigged the elections with an appeal. He noted that all political factions and the parliament should strengthen the guarantees of media’s independence, without which it’s impossible to have viable democracy. PACE President Rene van der Linden called on not to allow the political parties to put above the interests of the country from party disputes. He informed that while participating in the programme “Wider Europe: New Neighbourhood” they will take into account what progress Armenia had in the direction of the protection of human rights and strengthening of democracy.

PACE President Rene van der Linden and NA President Artur Baghdasaryan answered the journalists’ questions.

“As the role of the Council of Europe activates in the solution of the Karabakh key problem, is it possible to replace the mandate of the Minsk Group to some extent in that process?” in response to the question of the journalist of “Interfax” agency, PACE President Rene van der Linden answered that he would be against if the Council of Europe would replaces the Minsk Group as the issue should be solved between two countries: the Council of Europe can be useful in the process of reconciliation. He highlighted the personal meetings of the deputies of the Azeri and Armenian parliaments. In this aspect, NA President Artur Baghdasaryan agreed with PACE President, emphasizing that during these years the Minsk Group has already been specialized and has at best the information, and there is no need to create no formats. Moreover, that the meetings of two presidents, and discussions are underway.

“How can be connected the process of democratization and the settlement of Karabakh problem,” in response to the question of the journalist of “Interfax” agency, PACE President Rene van der Linden said that there is no direct link: the full democratic state creates favourable conditions for the final solution of the problem.

NA President highlighted the solution of the Karabakh problem through mutual compromises, noting that the authorities are for peace. According to Artur Baghdasaryan, PACE, taking into account the interests of both sides, can promote the conflict to get fair settlement. “The democracy is more a law than an exception, and the process of the reforms should be begun from the Basic Law of the country: as democratic is our state, so much the society is free, easier is the settlement of the conflicts in the country,” said NA President. The speaker said that the democracy in the country should be strengthened in case of having independent judicial system, free press, protection system of human rights and competitive market relations.

To the question “Iravunk” newspaper if the tough dialogue planned with opposition and authorities was held, Mr. Rene van der Linden answered that he called on the two sides to hold political dialogue.

To the question of “Mediamax” agency, what is the PACE President’s stance, knowing the decision of Justice bloc decision, say “no” to the constitutional reforms, Mr. Rene van der Linden noted that not anybody can have the right to make such decision, based on inner-party interests: it’s necessary to go to compromises. According to him, the Constitution is not only for the present authorities but also for the future ones: today you are opposition, tomorrow you’ll be a power, so you’ll have to do everything to have revealed your ideas in the Constitution.

“Didn’t Holland refute the version of the EU Constitution not being afraid of the above mentioned punitive measures,” to the question of “Haykakan Zhamanak” (Armenian Time) newspaper journalist, PACE President answered there is big difference between adopting the European Constitution in Holland and the process of constitutional reforms in Armenia. Besides, the failure of the referendum inside the European Union significantly weakened the positions of Holland. The speaker considered the reason of the failure of the referendum the lack of the awareness of the citizens on constitutional amendments.

To the question of the reporter of “Haykakan Zhamanak,” “Will the NA extraordinary session be broadcast on TV live?” NA President Artur Baghdasaryan answered that he is for the live broadcast of the extraordinary session because they don’t don’t have anything to hide from people, eventually, those reforms are made for the people and and the country but not for certain political forces. NA President highlighted the discussions of the constructive approaches proposed by different political forces.