3 minute read
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: The amended constitution of Turkey is a bit more democratic, Turkologist Artak Shakaryan said today at a meeting with journalists, referring to the referendum of constitutional reforms conducted September 12 in Turkey. Among the amendments in the constitution he singled out the introduction of the ombudsman’s institute in the country, as well as the change of the staff of the constitutional court, which reached 17 from 11, the members of which are appointed by the country’s parliament and president.
“By the former constitution the police were eligible to prohibit people’s departure from the country, but now people can freely move if they are not charged with a crime. Besides that, the current constitution allows Turkish officials to go on strike,” Mr. Shakaryan said. According to him, taking all this into consideration, Turkey’s amended constitution is considered as positive in regard to integration into the European Union, but in this process the real matter is not the constitution, but the Cyprus issue.
“The constitution and the regulation issue of Armenian-Turkish relations are on a lower scale in the process of Turkey’s integration into the EU from the angle of importance,” Mr. Shakaryan noted. Referring to the question whether the constitutional reforms will have some influence on regulation process of Armenian-Turkish relations, Mr. Shakaryan noted that parliamentary elections will be held in near future both in Armenia and Turkey, and in all appearances, there will be no explicit step by Turkey till 2012.
According to his forecast, after 2013 the Armenian-Turkish protocols will ether “come back” or the process will enter a new stage. Referring to not placing of a cross on Surb Khach Church, Aghtamar, Artak Shakaryan said that Turkey made an incorrect step, “defeating in that small battle”. “The international community has written a number of negative articles on not placing of a cross,” the turkologist said, adding that there are rumors, according to which the cross will possibly be present at the liturgy, but not placed.