Amend the Declaration of Independence, adopt the Swiss model

Vaհe H Apelian

The flags of Armenia and Srwitzerland

Forget Ilham Aliyev and what he says, but also be prepared that he will continue on insisting Armenia change its Constitution / Declaration of Independence. Why should he not? After all, internal political fissures in Armenia give him plenty of ammunition and  more of a reason to continue on demanding the same. 

First and foremost, let us clarify the following. The crux of the matter is the Declaration of Independence in the article 1 of the constitution. There is nothing in the Constitution per se that could be an issue of contention. 

The PM, during the last session of the National Assembly, reading from a prepared text contrary to his usual practice, publicly declared that there is no need to amend the Constitution of Armenia. However, he also said, should the Constitutional Court rule against the constitutionality of the Crossroad for peace initiative the Armenian government signs, then the matter becomes a political issue and may call for amending the Constitution / Declaration of Independence. But it did not take long for Horizon to post a bombastic report countering the PM.  (See the note 1)

From get go I have found the preamble of the Declaration of Independence poorly worded. I have noted the same in my previous blogs having especially the following statement in mind, in the preamble: “Based on the December 1, 1989, joint decision of the Armenian SSR Supreme Council and the Artsakh National Council on the "Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh;" (see note 2,3). I imagine that declarations of independence are about lofty goals but not about policy.

My question to the reader who happens to read this blog is the following. Why should Armenia not amend its Declaration of Independence?

The standard, run of the mill response is and has been that Azerbaijan has no business interfering in the Armenian Constitution / Declaration of Independent.

I have news to the reader. Should Mexico enshrine in its declaration of independence annexing New Mexico, the 47^th state in the Union, I can assure you it will be the business of the United State of America to settle the matter with Mexico, one way or another.

Should the U.S. resolve to have resolved to unite with Canada, as president Trump said jokingly; yes, it would be the business of Canada.

In December 2014 Ukraine's parliament voted to end its neutral status, and in 2018 it voted to enshrine the goal of NATO membership in the Constitution. Ukraine’s constitution became the business of Russian Federation and how. 

I say remove or amend the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic era worded  Declaration of Independence and remove that orphaned statement about Armenia ignored, abandoned,  and neglected from the very inception:  "Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh;" 

Instead adopt the Swiss model.

If land locked Switzerland is recognized as a permanently neutral state in Europe, there is no reason Armenia should not declare itself and be recognized at peace with it neighbors in the South Caucasus and beyond.

                                            ***

Note 1:  A bombastic reporting:

  http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-bombastic-reporting.html 

Note 2: Declaration of Independence – Hrchagakir – Հրչակագիր: https://www.gov.am/en/independence/

Note 3: The PM discussing peace agreement in the National Assembly:

 https://www.facebook.com/nikol.pashinyan/videos/1141154374095638