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ARMENIA DAILY DIGEST
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From: Abe Rein (ARein@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Apr 03 2003 - 17:57:37 EST
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Following a two-day debate, deputies approved on 2 April by 77 votes to
13 the revised version of the constitutional amendments proposed by
President Robert Kocharian, Interfax and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau
reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 31 March 2003). The amendments will now
be put to a national referendum on 25 May. In a message addressed to
parliament speaker Armen Khachatrian, Kocharian described the passage of
the amendments as "of paramount importance" and lauded the parliament's
"conscientious and responsible approach," according to Noyan Tapan.
Opposition deputies criticized the amendments for failing to curb the
president's broad powers. Opposition deputy Shavarsh Kocharian (no
relation to the president) told RFE/RL that they "would only create an
illusion of reform" and would aggravate the political and economic
situation in Armenia. He said the opposition will appeal to voters in
the referendum to reject them. LF
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