PROPOSED ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES UNVEILED

Constitutional Court Judge Gagik Harutiunian on 12 July briefed journalists on the changes to Armenia's 1995 Constitution, which he said have been approved by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission. Under those amendments, which were drafted by a presidential commission, the head of state would need the parliament's consent for appointing the prime minister and government ministers and would no longer be able to veto all cabinet decisions. The president would also be stripped of his right to dismiss the overwhelming majority of the country's judges. The package of amendments also seeks to boost legal safeguards against human rights abuses and envisages the abolition of the death penalty and a clause prohibiting dual citizenship. The amendments are to be sent to the National Assembly for consideration later this month and if approved will be the subject of a nationwide referendum that President Robert Kocharian hopes to call for next spring.