Karen Karapetyan discusses with Director/Secretary of the Venice Commission the opportunity for expansion of co-operation within the scope of judicial and legal reforms

During his visit to Strasbourg, Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan met with Director/Secretary of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Simona Granata-Menghini.

The Deputy Minister attached importance to co-operation established between the Venice Commission and the Ministry of Justice and the Commission's contributions to the judicial and legal and constitutional reforms being carried out in Armenia. The active support that the Commission has provided for development of a number of major drafts initiated by the Ministry during the recent years was specifically touched upon.

The parties also discussed a number of legislative acts developed in co-operation with the Commission, particularly the draft for introduction of mechanisms for appealing decisions of the Supreme Judicial Council on subjecting judges to disciplinary liability, increasing the number of non-judge members of the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission of the General Assembly of Judges, amendments and supplements to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia and related laws, as well as the draft Law of the Republic of Armenia "On national minorities".

The Director/Secretary of the Venice Commission highly appreciated the level of co-operation with the Ministry of Justice and expressed gratitude for the consistent attention to the recommendations provided by the Commission. The parties also considered the opportunities for expansion of the scope of co-operation with the Commission in relation to the agenda of judicial and legal reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.