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Date of referendum shown in draft on amendments and annexes to Azerbaijanâ€™s Constitution

26 December 2008 12:50 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that the majority of the parliamentarians supported the proposed constitutional reforms.

MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev also said that the issue on constitutional reforms had to be discussed in political parties, Political Board of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) before. MP Igbal Agazadeh objected to the elimination of the limit imposed on electing one person more than twice. He said that the proposal was YAPâ€™s demand and contradicted the democracy. The parliamentarian said the other proposed amendment â€“ legislative initiative of 40,000 citizens was against the state. Agazadeh said it might create opportunities for the ethnics living in Azerbaijan to protest against the state. According to him, when the Constitution is amended, it should be written there that Azerbaijanis are Turks, Turkish is the official language and proportional election system should be restored.
MP Astan Shahverdiyev proposed amendments on shortening of music and words of Azerbaijani anthem. Shahverdiyev added that except Bahar Muradova, other MPs along with him did not sing anthem.
MP Ali Ahmadov stated that the society supported Constitutional reforms. MP added that proposed amendments served to protect democracy.
â€œI think that the people will state their opinion on March 18â€, he said.
Draft referendum act on annexes and amendments to the Constitution envisages to hold the referendum on March 18.
Discussions on referendum will be conducted in the second half of the day.