Europe on Watch as Armenia Goes to Referendum

By Emre Demir, Cihan News Agency

Published: Sunday, November 27, 2005

zaman.com

Europe as well awaits the outcome of the constitutional referendum in Armenia. The positive public response bears great importance for the Council of Europe (CE).

The constitutional amendments were worked out according to the recommendations of the CE Venice Commission. CE Secretary General Terry Davis called the Armenian public to vote “yes” in the referendum. CE Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President Rene Van der Linden warned Armenia would receive a serious blow in its path to Europe in case the referendum obtained a “no” outcome. If the amendment package is rejected, the CE can impose certain sanctions on Erivan and even consider expelling it from the CE. Joining the CE requires the acceptance of the principle of the supremacy of the law and the guaranteeing of the basic human rights and the freedoms of the citizens. CE had launched a process of reform in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, which were accepted as members in 2000.

The referendum in Armenia received a noticeably low level of international observer participation. The European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) did not send any observers to the referendum and CE sent a team of 18 observers. The elections held on November 6 in Azerbaijan however were followed by 1,500 observers from various international organizations.

The referendum in Armenia is important also in relation with the Daglýk Karabag (Nagarno- Karabakh) issue. If a “yes” results is obtained from the referendum, Armenia can regain the international support it had lost. The dissatisfaction of the international observers by the November 6 elections at Azerbaijan was described as a negative development for Azerbaijan. CE had proclaimed Armenia as the occupying state in Nagarno-Karabakh in the report it had approved in January. Armenian President Robert Kocharian had expressed the importance of the referendum in the following way: “These constitutional amendments will increase our influence in the international arena and we will find more supporters in relation with the Nagarno-Karabakh issue.”