Sitting of the Steering Committee for the "Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Armenia — Phase II" Programme held

  On 15 March, the Steering Committee for the "Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Armenia — Phase II" Programme held a sitting at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia. Representatives of state bodies, NGOs and of the European Union took part in the sitting.

 Activities for judicial reforms in the Republic of Armenia carried out and currently being carried out by the Ministry of Justice were discussed during the sitting.

Addressing the reforms and the extent of the activities, Deputy Minister of Justice Vigen Kocharyan noted that a number of institutional and legislative measures have been taken for the establishment and development as well as improvement of the justice system.

  Deputy Minister of Justice Suren Krmoyan presented the problems concerning imposition of alternative punishments, probation service, and prison conditions, all the legislative and organisational activities in this regard, as well as indicated the target directions which are the focus of the Ministry and derive from the provisions stated in the mentioned programme.

  Mathieu Bousquet, Head of the Unit for Neighbourhood East, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, positively assessed the efforts of the Ministry to make tangible progress in the sector and expressed hope that the system of probation service will operate as soon as possible, stressing that "Armavir" Penitentiary institution can serve as a good example for ensuring prison conditions.