MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Lord Judd, co-chairman of the Duma-PACE Working Group, believes that the draft version of the constitution of the Chechen Republic, on which a referendum will be held on March 23, is very interesting.
While meeting with Chechen students on Tuesday, Lord Judd said he had read the document from cover to cover and it seemed to him quite interesting.
The meeting took place in the State Duma in Moscow. Dmitry Rogozin, another co-chairman of the Duma-PACE Working Group, who heads the Duma international affairs committee, was also present at the meeting.
Lord Judd said some aspects of the republic's constitution still need discussion and correction. The main objective is that this document express the people's will, he said.
"It is very important that people understand that this document protects their rights and interests," Lord Judd said. The constitution of the Chechen Republic should be as strong a document as the constitutions of France, Germany or Russia, he said.
Lord Judd said he favors an informal approach to working on the draft version of the constitution. The parliamentarian said there is a need for broad discussion of this document and the mass media should take an active part in it. This will give Chechnya a strong constitution, which people will not oppose, Lord Judd said.