According to a June 29 report by Azg, “Roland Wegener stated that progress is looming in all 3 spheres of Armenia\'s obligations to the CoE: balancing the authority of executive and legislative powers, reforming the judicial system, and establishing an electoral system for Yerevan’s mayor.” Azg continued stating that “In fact, President Robert Kocharian and the ruling coalition are making concessions exposed to pressure from the CoE. If in the past the Armenian authorities used to resist particularly in the issue of elective mayoralty, then they are surrendering in the last few weeks.”

On June 29 during a meeting with the head of the AGO Group and German Ambassador to CoE Roland Wegener, President Kocharian said that the “Full-scale introduction of the constitutional reforms project to the Armenian people will ensure the success of the referendum”.

PACE’s Resolution 1458 (2005) had put forth many strict conditions for implementing constitutional reforms in Armenia, including a requirement that “…constitutional amendments must be approved by more than 50% of the votes but not less than one third of all registered voters.” Additionally, the above-mentioned PACE resolution called on the Armenian government to: “ i. fully implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission; ii. undertake clear and meaningful steps in order to resume an immediate dialogue with the opposition; iii. adopt the text at the second reading without altering the agreement reached with the Venice Commission on the above-mentioned points and no later than August 2005; iv. provide live broadcasting of the parliamentary sittings where the constitutional amendments will be discussed and voted; v. start a well-prepared and professional awareness-raising campaign immediately after the adoption of the text at the second reading; vi. implement without delay the Assembly recommendations with regard to media pluralism in order to guarantee the broadest possible public debate; vii. urgently update voters\' lists; viii. hold the referendum no later than November 2005; ix. and to provide for the coming into force of the constitutional reform as soon as reasonably possible.”

Point 14 of the PACE’s resolution called “…on the opposition to stop its parliamentary boycott and do everything possible to promote the recommendations of the Council of Europe with regard to the constitutional reform.” However, some opposition party members rejected PACE’s call to end their boycott. Opposition lawmaker Hrant Khachatrian told Haykakan Zhamanak, “the opposition should not end its boycott of parliament sessions and endorse Kocharian\'s constitutional reform.” He argued that the coalition government “did not willingly embrace key constitutional amendments suggested by the Council of Europe.”

A more extreme position was held by the Armenian National Movement which ruled Armenia between 1991-1998 and was heavily criticized for the conduct of fraudulent presidential elections and constitutional referendum in 1995 and 1996. Through their media outlet, Aravot, they expressed continued support for the existing constitution and strong opposition to any constitutional amendments to be undertaken by the government or opposition.

Meanwhile, the 6/27/05 issue of Golos Armenii expressed hope that the coalition government of Armenia and the opposition would adhere to the call of the PACE resolution and begin to cooperate on constitutional reforms and that Armenia “will take yet another step toward democratizing political and public life and bringing it closer to European standards.”