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We are convinced that the constitutional referendum due in Armenia in December will be held in line with the principles of democracy, Electoral Code requirements, and international standards, Gunnar Wiegand - the European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE – told reporters today.

According to G. Wiegand, they are familiar with the opinion and conclusions of the Venice Commission about the draft amendments to the Constitution of Armenia.

Gunner Wiegand said some of the EU member states have a presidential system of government, while others have a parliamentary system so they cannot say which of the two models is better. He added that the important thing is whether a constitutional reform results in strengthening of fundamental freedoms in the country.

As was reported, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on August 21 sent the draft constitutional amendments to the country’s parliament. The draft was developed by the Special Commission on Constitutional Reforms adjunct to Armenian President. Following the debates, the Armenian parliament adopted on October 5 the draft decision of the National Assembly on its consent for the document to be put to a referendum. The decision was passed by a majority of the votes: 104 MPs voted in favor, 10 against, with 3 abstentions. The draft was supported by the factions of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), and opposition ARF-Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD) and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). Opposition factions ‘Heritage’ and ‘Armenian National Congress (ANC), and 2 MPs of opposition faction ‘Orinats Yerkir’ voted against. The Armenian president set December 6, 2015 as the date for the constitutional referendum. The campaign for the constitutional reform in Armenia began on October 10 and will end at midnight of December 4.