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PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 164a07
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet: www.coe.int/press
Venice Commission's 70th session: discussions include freedom of
expression v. freedom of religion, and the Serbian constitution
Strasbourg, 13.03.2007 - 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.
All the adopted texts are public and will be available on the
Commission's website: www.venice.coe.int
Press contacts:
Estelle Steiner, Press officer, Directorate of Communication, Council of
Europe
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57,
[email protected]
Roberto Tumbarello, Council of Europe press correspondent in Italy -
Mobile: +39 335 69 38 216, [email protected]
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 164a07
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet: www.coe.int/press
Venice Commission's 70th session: discussions include freedom of
expression v. freedom of religion, and the Serbian constitution
Strasbourg, 13.03.2007 - 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.
All the adopted texts are public and will be available on the
Commission's website: www.venice.coe.int
Press contacts:
Estelle Steiner, Press officer, Directorate of Communication, Council of
Europe
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57,
[email protected]
Roberto Tumbarello, Council of Europe press correspondent in Italy -
Mobile: +39 335 69 38 216, [email protected]
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.