YEREVAN. – The Yezidi community of Armenia has always been in favor of having an MP in the National Assembly (Parliament). 

“Yezidi National Committee” NGO Vice Chairman Sashik Sultanyan stated the aforesaid at a press conference on Monday. He added, however, that this is possible to achieve by making respective amendments to the Electoral Code, and without a constitutional reform.

“The national minorities are, first of all, citizens of Armenia, and all provisions of the constitutional reforms relate to the national minorities,” said Sultanyan. “When community leaders say the [working] Constitution is a good one, the remaining items also should be considered.” 

“Shams” Humanitarian NGO Chairman Rustam Bakoyan, for his part, noted that, in his view, there is no need yet for a constitutional reform in Armenia.

“We[, Yezidis], as a part of the society of Armenia, don’t feel the need for it,” noted Bakoyan. “[But] when the society feels that it’s needed, we also will join them.”

Chapters 1 through 7 of the new draft Constitution of Armenia were made public on July 15. Accordingly, the country will make a transition from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system of governance. And pursuant to this draft Constitution, parliamentary seats will be allocated also for the national minorities of the country.