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It is beyond the scope of Venice Commission members to answer political questions, they can only express an opinion about the constitutional reform in Armenia, a member of the Venice Commission said today in response to the question of Levon Zurabyan, an MP of the opposition faction ‘Armenian National Congress’ (ANC), whether Venice Commission member know the purpose of carrying out constitutional reforms in Armenia.

A meeting of experts of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) with representatives of political parties of Armenia is underway at Law Department of Yerevan State University. The draft new Constitution of Armenia is being discussed at the meeting attended by representatives of parliamentary forces, public figures, human rights activists, and law experts.

As was reported, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan submitted on August 21 the draft amendments in the Constitution of Armenia to the National Assembly. The draft amendments had been developed by the Commission on Constitutional Reforms under Armenian President. Vardan Poghosyan, a member of the Commission, has been appointed as official representative of Armenian President for presentation of the draft amendments to the Constitution in the National Assembly of Armenia. This week Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan plans to begin consultations with representatives of political parties regarding the approaches stated in the draft Constitution. The head of state also instructed the Commission on Constitutional Reforms under Armenian President to continue the dialog with the Venice Commission (VC) over those issues indicated in the VC’s preliminary opinion, around which no agreed solutions have been found so far.