Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 19 / Trend , S.Agayeva/ Any changes to the Constitution are
a move targeted at toward democratization, because societies evolve and
political, economic and socio-cultural factors change, said Elnur Aslanov, head
of the Political Analysis & Information Department at the Azerbaijani
President's Office.
A referendum action on changes to the Constitution was discussed at a
parliamentary meeting on Dec. 19.
The discussions will also focus article 108 which calls for insuring rights of those elected president earlier by the Constitution and granting them status of former president, and changes to item 5 of article101 calls for lifting restriction prohibiting one person from being elected president more than twice
Azerbaijan's Constitution was adopted in 1995 and changes and supplements were injected in 2002.
Aslanov said with time persons, their views and strivings change, public and political orders improve, economic structure of society changes, new threat and destabilization factors appear across the world and core of national identity shifts its place and role.
"From 1995 to 2008, world order changed as whole and new threats for security appeared. We differently accept democratic development which priority of for us now," Aslanov said.
Azerbaijan's has record economic indicators and economy is liberalized successfully, he added.
"It allows to say that initiative of changes to the Constitution is of positive nature as first of all, it is result of a public request. Second, it is striving to democratize Azerbaijani society. Third, the changes to the Constitution embody symmetric development of society," Aslanov said.
Of course, the discussions are still underway and the people will have a final say, he added.
For example, France has made changes to its Constitution for 12-15 times over the last 200 years and U.S. adopted 26 changes to the Constitution. This is natural as society and state develops and development requires respective legislative framework.
"Our goal is to democratize Azerbaijani society and began construction of a civil society. This is President's key priority for the coming five years and no one should have doubts about its fulfillment," Aslanov said.
Have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]