Amend the Declaration of Independence, adopt the Swiss

Vahe 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. There is nothing in the Constitution that could be an issue of contention. The crux of the matter is the Declaration of Independence. 

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)

I cannot believe myself that I will be stating the following while distancing myself from the prevailing Ampokhayin Dramapanoutyun-The Armenian crowd mentality, a term Kristapor Mikaelian coined in the Armenian lexicon. Obviously, Armenians do not have any inkling of bipartisan stand, even at the nation’s direst hours.

From get go I have found the preamble of the Declaration of Independence poorly worded and illusive. I have noted the same in my previous blogs having the following statement in the preamble in mind: “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)

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. Congress resolve to annex Canada as its 51^st sate, as president Trump said jokingly; yes, it will 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 amend the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic era  Declaration of Independence and remove that orphaned statement Armenia ignored, abandoned,  and neglected from the very inception of the "Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh;" and

Adopt instead 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 as the permanent neutral state in the South Caucasus.

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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