Pashinyan says constitutional changes will be initiated if high court deems peace treaty unconstitutional

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated on Thursday that he would initiate constitutional amendments if the Constitutional Court deems the would-be peace treaty with Azerbaijan as unconstitutional.

He made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement after the initialing of the peace treaty about the need for constitutional changes in Armenia. 

“During the ratification process, if our Constitutional Court decides that the peace agreement which has been initialed now and would be subsequently signed, contradicts the Constitution, I myself would initiate constitutional changes,” Pashinyan said, adding that there is no need to think about this now.

At the same time, he reminded that his administration has an agenda of adopting a new constitution by 2027.

“We are now working on the draft of the new constitution. When it is ready, we will hold a referendum. But this has nothing to do with this process [peace process with Azerbaijan]. However, it could have impact on this process from a strategic perspective.”