VENICE COMMISSION’S 70th SESSION

A1+
[12:38 pm] 14 March, 2007

Venice Commission’s 70th session: discussions include freedom of
expression v. freedom of religion, and the Serbian constitution

The Council of Europe’s European Commission for Democracy through Law
(the "Venice Commission") will be meeting in Venice on 16 and 17 March
(Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista). This is its 70th session
since it was set up in 1990.

The Commission will adopt a report on blasphemy, religious insults
and inciting religious hatred.

Another point on the agenda concerns the extent to which video
surveillance is compatible with respect for human rights. These
questions were submitted to the Venice Commission by the Parliamentary
Assembly.

Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General, and Fiorenzo Stolfi,
Foreign Minister of San Marino and Chairman-in-Office of the Council
of Europe Committee of Ministers, will both speak at the opening of
the session on Friday 16 March at 9.30 am.

The session will also include:

* an exchange of views with Gia Kavtaradze, Georgian Minister
for Justice, and the adoption of an opinion on the disciplinary
responsibility of judges of common courts;

* adoption of an opinion on the new Serbian constitution;

* a discussion, attended by the Speaker of the Montenegro Parliament,
Ranko Krivokapic, on developments concerning the adoption of a new
constitution in Montenegro;

* adoption of opinions relating to the "the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia", in the presence of Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski, on:

o the legal status of churches, religious communities and religious
groups;

o the office of the Public Prosecutor and the Council of Public
Prosecutors;

o the draft revision of the electoral code.

* adoption of opinions relating to Ukraine on parliamentary opposition,
the imperative mandate for members of the Verkhovna Rada of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of local councils, and on the
judicial system and the status of judges;

* adoption of a joint opinion with the OSCE/ODIHR on the revision of
the electoral code in Armenia.

The Venice Commission will also adopt the Code of good practice
in referendums.