National Assembly, Armenia
Oct 13 2006

With Readiness to Continue Efficient Cooperation

On October 11 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia Mr. Tigran Torosyan received the delegation headed by the
Director General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe , Mr. Guy
De Vel. The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the
Council of Europe Boyana Urumova and the Permanent Representative,
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe Mr.
Christian Ter-Stepanian also attended the meeting.

During the meeting the NA President Mr. Tigran Torosyan informed
about the legislative amendments made after the referendum. He
especially noted about the abolition of the administrative custody,
which has been done at the level of the Constitution, the amendment
to the law on Constitutional Court, the broadening of the applicants’
circle to the Constitutional Court, the laws concerning the judicial
system. The adoption of laws and their sending for an expert
assessment simultaneously was explained by time issues, as
conditioned by the forthcoming general elections the National
Assembly can work more efficiently till the end of the year, and the
2007 Spring Session coincides with the period of parliamentary
pre-electoral campaign.

Director General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe , Mr. Guy
De Vel thanked the President of the National Assembly for the
efficient cooperation and expressed readiness to continue it. He
noted that Armenia has greatly met its obligations, adopted important
laws for democratic development, which are already exposed to expert
assessment. The two parties stressed the importance of the reforms of
the judicial system and the adoption of the Judicial Code, which will
be a document for these reforms. Mr. Guy De Vel touched upon with
contentment the debate of the Electoral Code with the experts of the
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Mr. Tigran Torosyan
highlighted the importance of adopting the Electoral Code till the
end of the year with first and second readings.

During the meeting draft laws that are in circulation were also
discussed, especially the draft law on Television and Radio.
Stressing the importance of adopting this draft law within the
framework of constitutional amendments Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted,
that the Parliament will try to adopt a relevant draft law before the
end of the year. The draft law on the City of Yerevan and other
issues of mutual importance were also discussed.