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Draft Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), which is currently under discussion, is similar to the Constitution of the United States, which is democracy based on a presidential rule, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told reporters today at a briefing after the Cabinet session. 

Deputy minister’s comments came at a question whether the draft Constitution implying ‘super presidential’ system, will be useful in terms of the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister dismissed the label ‘super presidential’.

“References to the presidential system are often associated with Azerbaijani type of state. That is certainly not the case, since the model Artsakh is adopting is similar to the U.S. one. Note, the issue is not yet finalized, and the existing external threat in Karabakh also played a role in making the decision [of changing the Constitution],” Kocharyan stressed.

In response to observation that Armenia took parliamentary model of governing, while Artsakh chooses the presidential one, Kocharyan said: “Different circumstances and factors played a role for Artsakh to adopt the model. An influential parliament is needed. In Artsakh the National Assembly consists of 33 parliamentarians. It could be enhanced. The question also is of professional nature, connected with the Armenia’s internal potential, population differences in Armenia and Artsakh, the availability of the specialists, etc.”

Asked at what phase the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process is today, Shavarsh Kocharyan said that first of all the Vienna and Saint Petersburg agreements should be implemented. “It is pointless to speak of a progress without the implementation of those agreements,” concluded Kocharyan.