On 4 May 2022, Ambassador Arman KHACHATRYAN, Permanent Representative of Armenia, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge, deposited the instruments of ratification of the:
- Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (CETS 205), also known as Tromsø Convention
- Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS 217).
Both treaties will enter into force for Armenia on 1 September 2022.
Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (CETS No. 205)
This Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities. Transparency of public authorities is a key feature of good governance and an indicator of whether or not a society is genuinely democratic and pluralist. The right of access to official documents is also essential to the self-development of people and to the exercise of fundamental human rights. It also strengthens public authorities’ legitimacy in the eyes of the public, and its confidence in them.
This Convention lays down a right of access to official documents. Limitations on this right are only permitted in order to protect certain interests like national security, defence or privacy.
The Convention sets forth the minimum standards to be applied in the processing of requests for access to official documents (forms of and charges for access to official documents), review procedure and complementary measures and it has the flexibility required to allow national laws to build on this foundation and provide even greater access to official documents.
Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 217)
The Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196) makes a number of acts, including taking part in an association or group for the purpose of terrorism, receiving terrorist training, travelling abroad for the purposes of terrorism and financing or organising travel for this purpose, a criminal offence. The Protocol also provides for a network of 24-hour-a-day national contact points facilitating the rapid exchange of information.
The Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196) aims to strengthen member States’ efforts to prevent terrorism in two different ways:
- by establishing as criminal offences certain acts that may lead to the commission of terrorist offences, namely: public provocation, recruitment and training
- by reinforcing co-operation on prevention both internally (national prevention policies), and internationally (modification of existing extradition and mutual assistance arrangements and additional means).
The Convention contains a provision on the protection and compensation of victims of terrorism. A consultation process is planned to ensure effective implementation and follow up.
More information:
- Tromsø Convention
- Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT)