Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 10 / Trend , S.Agayeva/
Formation of different referendum initiative groups manifests difference of opinions, Head of Political Analyses and Database Department of the Azeri Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov said.
"Amendments to the Constitution require public discussions. Naturally, some groups can express their dissatisfaction with the amendments and others - their satisfaction. This is a natural process of the public development which I assess as developing and improving level of democracy in the country," Aslanov told Trend on Jan. 10.
In late December, Azerbaijan's parliament passed a decision to hold a referendum March 18 to amend 29 articles of the Constitution.
According to Article 152, the Constitution can only be amended via referendum. Additionally, Article 153 states that if the parliament or president proposes an amendment, the Constitutional Court must reach its own conclusions regarding the proposal before the referendum vote.
The Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
Pluralism of opinions is a base of the democratic transformation. Respectively, these of those initiative groups are only expression of difference of opinions, positions and views, which is a natural fact for democracy, he said.
Everybody should accept it as democratic development of the Azeri state and society, where pluralism is a ground for basis of modern development, Aslanov said.
"The people will express their opinions on Mar. 18 when we will know results of all initiative groups," he said.
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