Venice Commission discusses Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia,
Italy and Serbia
Strasbourg, 9 March 2005 – The constitutional situation in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the powers of the High Representative, judicial
reform in Georgia and the status of South Ossetia, media freedom in
Italy – these are among the items on the agenda of the plenary
session of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission which will take
place on 11 and 12 March in Venice, in the Scuola Grande di San
Giovanni Evangelista.
The efficiency and rationality of current constitutional arrangements
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting from the Dayton Peace Agreement,
are the subject of a comprehensive document to be adopted by the
Commission. This opinion will outline major changes required if the
country wants to make further progress, and examine whether the
present practice of decisions by the High Representative is
compatible with European standards. A further opinion on Bosnia and
Herzegovina concerns the responsibility of the United Nations for the
dismissal of former police officers.
The Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Mr Konstantin
Vardzelashvili, will inform the Commission on further developments on
the status of South Ossetia, following the recent visit of the
Commission to Georgia. In addition, the Commission will adopt its
opinion on the latest draft constitutional amendments relating to the
reform of the judiciary in Georgia.
The laws on the conflict of interest and on principles governing the
broadcasting system of Italy and the draft law on religious
organisations of Serbia are also on the agenda of the 62nd plenary of
the Venice Commission. It will also express its opinion on the law on
public meetings and on draft amendments to the electoral code of
Armenia.
All adopted opinions will be available on the website of the Venice
Commission shortly after the session:
Press contacts:
Ms Tatyana Mychelova, External Relations Officer, Venice Commission:
in Strasbourg (until 10 March 2005, 12:00) : + 33 388 41 38 68 / +33
67672 0402
in Venice (11-12 March 2005) +39 340 15 77 931
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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works
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