We Cannot Accept a Constitution Imposed by Azerbaijan: Narek Karapetyan

Narek Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia faction, has announced that their party will not support constitutional changes that are deemed to be dictated by Azerbaijan’s demands. Addressing the question of whether the opposition might support a new constitutional draft, he emphasized that the Declaration of Independence is the 'birthright' of Armenia and cannot be overlooked.

'Our Declaration of Independence is our country’s birthright. We are advocates of peace and have said this many times. But we do not agree with the approach that we must burn our birthright and accept a Constitution that continues to be spoken about by Azerbaijan,' he stated.

Karapetyan expressed concern regarding statements from Azerbaijani officials about the possibility of a constitutional referendum. 'We cannot accept a Constitution that they are saying they expect to be adopted. This relates to the future of our country,' he noted.

The lawmaker also emphasized that their political force will continue to work towards establishing peace but through means that will not undermine the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people. 'We will work towards establishing peace, but we will propose alternatives that do not undermine our country’s and our nation’s interests,' Karapetyan said.

He added that at the appropriate stage, they will present their views to the public in detail and explain how they envision the path to achieving peace.