Kingdom of the Netherlands is ready to assist justice sector specialists displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh

Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan received Chargé d'Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia Jaap Frederiks.

The Minister expressed gratitude for the assistance that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has provided to the reforms in the justice sector, as well as for the statement that the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands made on the strengthening of relations with the Republic of Armenia at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27 October.

Grigor Minasyan noted the importance of the assistance provided by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the process of implementing the actions for implementing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute) ratified on 3 October.

Jaap Frederiks affirmed the willingness of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to assist the Republic of Armenia in all issues related to implementation of the Rome Statute.

The parties also discussed the existing agenda for co-operation in various directions of the justice sector, as well as the prospects for strengthening and development of the co-operation. The possible directions for assistance in the reforms of the probation and penitentiary sectors were particularly touched upon.

The parties also predetermined the co-operation in the activities being carried out in the judicial sector, development of human resources and in other directions. The opportunity for co-operation in the integrity checks of judges was especially emphasised.

The parties recalled the important role of the long-term project "Assistance in Implementing the Strategy of the Penal System in the Republic of Armenia" (ASPIRA) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in reorganising the sector, making the transition from punitive to rehabilitation.

Both parties considered the possible directions for assistance of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to the legal status of, social support for and the integration of persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Importance was attached to the commitment to provide persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh with job opportunities, particularly for specialists in the justice sector.