Republican Party of Armenia

 On October 9 the NA President Galust Sahakyan received the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks.

The RA NA President thanked the Commissioner for the work done by the Council of Europe in the cooperation with Armenia and strengthening of democracy in Armenia.

He has noted that in May-November, 2013 Armenia had an honour to preside in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. According to the NA President, the priorities of Armenia’s chairmanship were fully consistent with the agenda items of the CoE member countries and the CoE organisation. He has opined that Armenia’s chairmanship was fulfilled rather successfully and balanced, and via the principle of dialogue with all the member countries.

Talking about the protection of human rights, Galust Sahakyan has documented that the reforms implemented in Armenia have been consistent, and a serious progress has been registered with the support of the Council of Europe in the process of fulfillment of obligations assumed by Armenia, and deep reforms have been made. During the talk the Head of the Parliament has highlighted the full implementation of the Armenia-CoE Action Plan of for 2012-2014. In February 2014 the Government of Armenia has approved the National Strategy on Human Rights Protection, which has launched on June 30. The NA President has highlighted the programme in terms of strengthening human rights protection guarantees in Armenia and has noted that it will serve as the road map of the Government of Armenia for the coming three years.

Touching upon the process of constitutional reforms going on in Armenia, Galust Sahakyan has noted that a Professional Commission for Constitutional Amendments adjunct to the RA President has been created, which will submit the draft constitutional amendments to the RA President. The process of reforms have been initiated by the RA President stemming from the necessity of exercising the rule-of-law principle, improving the development of constitutional mechanisms for ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms, providing authorities’ full balancing and rising public administration efficiency. The RA NA President has noted that the recommendations on the RA constitutional reforms are worked out through active public debates with close cooperation of the Venice Commission.

Then the RA NA President has touched upon the judicial-legal reforms, noting that in 2012 the Strategic Programme for the RA Legal and Judicial Reforms for 2012-2016 and the list of measures based on the programme have been approved by the RA President. The main goal of the programme is the provision of legal system and judicial power complying with the standards of modern legal state in Armenia.

Talking about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Galust Sahakyan has noted that Armenia is resolute to continue the commitment assumed before the CoE for the NK problem settlement through peaceful means. Though the Council of Europe hasn’t got a mandate and mechanisms for the settlement of conflicts, the organization can initiate direct contacts with Karabakh irrespective of Nagorno Karabakh status within the framework of its functions, moreover, when the Council of Europe has a similar experience in other conflicting zones.

Galust Sahakyan has mentioned that Armenia’s resoluteness to solve the problem through peaceful means is not sufficient, Azerbaijan’s readiness is also necessary, but the bellicose announcements, war threats being voiced by Azerbaijan, proliferation of hate, inadequate growth of military expenditures and the accumulation of armament continue to cause anxiety.

The RA President also has noted that the nations’ self-determination is the guarantee for the exercise of the fundamental rights, and the population of Nagorno Karabakh has self-determined for living in a democratic society. It is not possible to live and enjoy one’s own rights in a country, where human rights are violated, where Armenians are considered number one enemy, even the active members of the civil society are persecuted, who dare to enter into a dialogue with their counterparts from Armenia, for example, the Sakharov prize candidate of this year Leyla Yunus.

Thereafter Galust Sahakyan has informed that the year 2015 sees the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. The recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and its condemnation by the international community and especially by Turkey in any corner of the world is the best means of preventing genocide.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks has thanked the RA NA President for the reception and for the opportunity for the discussion of the existing problems. He has noted that he has already had meetings with the RA President, the Prime Minister, the Ministers, the officials of justice sphere and MPs. Nils Muižnieks has highlighted the problems concerning violence towards women and gender equality, and judicial system. He has noted that the problems of violence towards women are not special: unfortunately, they exist in the whole world; however, it will be better for all the political forces to respond to this problem and promote the ratification of the Convention in Armenia. Touching upon the judicial system, Nils Muižnieks has mentioned that it is overloaded, during the recent years the number of cases under examination has increased twice. The studies show that some part of the society does not trust the country’s system of justice, but if necessary applies to the very court.

According to Nils Muižnieks, this is a paradoxical phenomenon. He has noted that a report on observations connected with the visit will be prepared and has expressed hope that the report will be useful. Nils Muižnieks has also expressed satisfaction with respect to the cooperation with the Venice Commission on the constitutional amendments and has expressed hope the RA cooperation with the CoE will continue in Strasbourg.

Referring to the issues raised by the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan has documented that through many years Armenia has been making reforms, but there is still a lot to do. Then he has stated that we have serious remarks for the adoption of Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence connected with our national value system, and after certain amendments the Convention will be adopted.