YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has entered a phase of crucial changes by the constitutional reforms, which must immediately be felt for the society, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the meeting with participants of the operative-gathering of the commanding staff of the Armenian Armed Forces.

“The issues of organizing our public life and good administration are national security issues.  Incomplete administration directly affects national security and the country’s defense capability. For this very reason we initiated the Constitutional reforms process. Thus, our country has entered a phase of crucial changes, which must be directly felt for you personally and your family members. I know, many of you have some concerns on the elimination of the post of supreme commander in chief in peacetime, as result of the constitutional changes. Yes, from 2018, when the new constitution comes into force completely, such a position is defined only for wartime. In France, which is also a semi-presidential republic, the term “coexistence” has historically been formed. It is the situation, when the country’s President represents one party, and the Prime Minister and majority of the Parliament represent another”, Sargsyan said.

He added, after long discussions they came to conclusion that forming such “coexistence” for Armenia is a very long lasting process and yet unrealistic.

“All of you know, semi-solutions are usually forced and the worst solutions, therefore it was necessary to find a complete solution. With the new constitution, our state transitions into a parliamentary administration type. The opportunities and powers of the Prime Minister in terms of national security and defense will be a lot wider, than those vested in today’s President – the commander in chief, in the conditions of semi-presidential administration. The purpose is the following: Centralize responsibility and powers in one place. If there will be necessity to give more details, perhaps you are very interested in this issue, I will be ready to present in more details. So, we ruled out the possibility of unhealthy competition between the President and the Prime Minister in conditions of “coexistence”. I think, this is very important”, Sargsyan said.

Addressing the attendees, the President assured these changes won’t have any effect on their work, and if indeed have, then only from positive perspective. “From this perspective you won’t feel any negative change. From the perspective of organizing national defense and administration, this change, as I said, will have only positive impact. The state of Armenia will continue to caress and cherish its irreplaceable and beloved son – the Armenian Army”, the President stressed.

The President said the mentality as if Armenia is condemned to failure until the Karabakh issue isn’t solved and Turkey’s blockade isn’t eliminated is unacceptable. According to him, our internal flaws aren’t created by Azerbaijanis or Turks. The shortcomings of our country’s administration have no connection with them whatsoever and aren’t due to them.