From Armenia in brief: National Assembly approves a bill on referendums

by Maria Titizian

Published: Saturday December 06, 2008

Yerevan - The Armenian parliament approved a bill to make changes and amendments to the existing law on referendums. The amendments stipulate that a nonbinding referendum can be conducted to gage public opinion on critical national issues such as foreign policy, military and national security.

The bill was submitted to parliament by the government.

According to Arminfo, Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian said that after studying international experience and Armenia's existing legislation on referendums, the government felt the necessity to propose changes in the current law.

According to RFE/RL, the government drafted this amendment after the country's president met with leaders of 50 political parties in November where he assured them that he would not sign any peace accords with Azerbaijan without securing their approval by voters. Artur Baghdasarian, the secretary of the National Security Council confirmed on December 1, that President Serge Sargsian is ready to place the Karabakh peace proposals on a referendum.

The opposition Heritage party voted against the bill.