Council of Europe

March 9 2005

Venice Commission discusses Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia,
Italy and Serbia

/noticias.info/ Strasbourg, 10 March 2005 ~V 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~Rs 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.