Conference on the European legal standards of rule of law and the scope of discretion of powers in the member-states of the Council of Europe started its work in Yerevan on July 3-5

05 July, 2013

Within the framework of the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee in Ministers of the Council of Europe a conference on "The European Standards of Rule of Law and the Scope of Discretion of Powers in the member states of the Council of Europe” started its work on July 3 at the National Assembly of Armenia. About 80 representatives from 32 countries and international structures took part in the conference.

Reading out the welcoming address of the President of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan,Vigen Sargsyan, Chief of Staff of the President expressed confidence that “the conference, dedicated to the European standards of rule of law and the scope of discretion of powers will make a lasting contribution to addressing challenges existing in our country and other member states of the Council of Europe and to more efficient guarantee, ensuring and protection of human rights”.

The President of National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan in his opening remarks welcomed the participants of the conference: “Holding of this event is symbolic not only in the sense that it is taking place in the framework of the Armenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, but also attests to Armenia’s commitment to European values and readiness to closely integrate in the large European family”.

The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian delivered a welcoming speech. He noted that after joining the Council of Europe for the first time Armenia assumed the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers on May 16, 2013. He considered this to be an important mission and an additional opportunity for Armenia to make its contribution to the joint efforts of the member states of the Council of Europe aimed at the development of democracy.

The President of the European Court of Human Rights Dean Spielmann and the President of the CoE Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio addressed the participants with their welcoming speeches. The President of the European Court of Human Rights particularly touched upon the European legal standards, and highlighted supervision of laws by courts, creation of the effective system of maintaining constitutional norms, cooperation with different bodies of the power on this matter, and the provision of checks and balances of different branches of power.

The President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio stressed the importance of the theme of the discussion of the conference. He noted that the rule of law is an important basis for the balance between branches of power and for social behavior of the authorities and individuals, and securing the constitutional guarantees is the first obligation of any state.

Within the framework of the theme “Principle of Rule of Law as Axiological Ground for the Social Behavior of the Authorities and an Individual in a Legal State: Constitutional Guarantees in Different Countries” the President of the Armenian Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan delivered a speech on the theme “Position and Role of Rule of Law in Human and Citizen’s Behavior”. Gagik Harutyunyan noted that though the rule of law is the cornerstone of the state, nevertheless it is limited by the inalienable human rights, which has become a key constitutional norm for many countries.

At the second session of the conference thematic speeches were delivered on the theme “Principle of Rule of Law as Criteria of Determination of the Scope of the Discretion of the Legislative and Executive Powers”.

The agenda of the three-day conference includes also discussions on judicial review of the laws and other legal acts by independent judicial bodies, and cooperation of human rights’ defender with different state and local self–government bodies in ensuring the effective implementation of the principle of rule of law.

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