Democracy & Human Rights

Armenia’s Minister of Education Urges Schools Not to Engage in Election Propaganda

(armenianweekly.com) YEREVAN – Armenia’s Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchyan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) said that he will urge all schools in the country not to engage in partisan politics ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. “School principals have the right to belong to political parties, however, they shouldn’t engage…

Vardanyan Sums Up 2016

The Secretary of ARF-D Parliamentary faction and Chairman of the party’s Supreme Body of Armenia, Aghvan Vardanyan held a press conference and as it is customary he offered a summary of 2016 from the ARF-D point of view, reported yerkir.am. Vardanyan said that it has been a starting point in some levels considering that the…

ARF-D’s Aghvan Vardanyan, Lilit Galstian Meet with Head of EU delegation to Armenia, Amb. Piotr Świtalski

On February 18, 2016, ARF-D Supreme Council of Armenia Chairman Aghvan Vardanyan and member Lilit Galstian held a meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Dr. Piotr Świtalski, at the premises of the delegation in Yerevan. The parties discussed about the political developments in the country and the…

Constitutional Amendments Approved in Armenia’s Referendum

(source: armenianweekly.com) Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced today that 825,622 citizens, around 63.4 percent of eligible voters, voted in favor of the new constitution, amid several reports of violations and irregularities. A total of 1,296,368 people, or around 50.51 percent of eligible voters, participated in the referendum according to figures released by the CEC.…

“Definitive Yes” campaign at Vayots Dzor and Talin provinces

ARF-D representatives took the party’s “Definitive Yes” to the constitutional reforms campaign to Vayots Dzor and Talin provinces, yerkirmedia.am reported. During the meeting with voters in Vayq ARF-D Yerevan City Committee representative Bagrat Yessayan presented the advantages of the proposed constitution delivering counter-arguments to the rhetoric of the “No” campaign. “The supporters of the “No”…

David Lokyan: The parliamentary government system will put an end to the overcentralization

(yerkirmedia.am) ARF-D party members continue meetings in regions within the frames of the constitutional referendum campaign. One of its campaign groups is in Armavir. ARF-D representative Davit Lokyan gives the names of the countries that have a parliamentary government system and are an example for many countries of the world with their development level. Overall,…

Vardanyan: Constitutional reforms to pave way to steady political system; Ruling party realizes need to give up some powers

(tert.am) The upcoming constitutional referendum is going to have a positive outcome in terms of helping Armenia build a steady political system, says Aghvan Vardanyan, the secretary of the ARF-D (Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun) faction in parliament. Speaking to Tert.am, the politician said doesn’t think that the pro and con opinions on the proposed draft should…

Minasyan: Armenia’s new Constitution to raise level of government’s responsibility

(tert.am) Armenia is facing not only socio-economic problems, but also an atmosphere of mistrust, and a new constitution could remedy the situation, Artsvik Minasyan, an MP of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) party, told reporters on Monday. Under the current Constitution, government agencies are not properly responsible for their functions. “We have no adequate…

ARF-D Calls New Constitution an ‘Opportunity for a New Beginning’

(source: armenianweekly.com) YEREVAN —In its efforts to urge the citizens of Armenia to vote for the proposed constitution in the Dec. 6 national referendum, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyn’s (ARF-D) Supreme Body of Armenia recently published a promotional pamphlet outlining the reasons for the party’s support of the constitutional reforms, which were adopted by…

Mkrtchyan: Constitutional Reforms Important for Armenia’s National Security

Former ARF-D Bureau Member Levon Mkrtchyan Discusses Armenia’s Proposed Constitutional Reforms in Watertown (armenianweekly.com) WATERTOWN, Mass.—“The constitution applies to everything in the country, and it should be clear why the ARF-D is backing the proposed changes to the constitution,” said Levon Mkrtchyan, a former member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) Bureau and…