Armenian foreign minister signals possible constitutional referendum

Armenia may hold a referendum on constitutional changes, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has suggested, while stressing that the issue is strictly a domestic matter and not part of negotiations with Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the Yerevan Dialogue international forum on Wednesday, Mirzoyan addressed claims that Baku had made Armenia’s constitution a condition for the conclusion and ratification of a peace agreement. “Azerbaijan says they are not ready to sign and ratify the peace treaty, which has been pre-signed, if Armenia does not change its Constitution,” he noted. “I believe Armenia’s Constitution is an internal issue, a domestic matter that concerns Armenia alone.”

Mirzoyan indicated that constitutional changes could be put to a public vote. “We will probably have a referendum related to the Constitution, but this is not a matter to be discussed with international partners. It is our internal issue,” he said.