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LAW "ON CONDUCTING MEETINGS, RALLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS"
DISCUSSED WITH PARTICIPATION OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIA, OSCE
AND PACE
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the CE Venice
Commission and OSCE Yerevan Office a roundtable on the subject "Freedom
of Holding Meetings: Legislation and Application" was organized
on June 3 at Yerevan "Congress" hotel. The goal of the event was
to discuss RA law "On Conducting Meetings, Rallies, Processions and
Demonstrations," its application, as well as to discuss it from point
of view of correspondence of the draft of law's amendments approved
recently in the first reading at NA to European standards. The event's
organizers tried to combine those bearing the law's influence and
those responsible for law's execution at the discussion. Experts of
CE Venice Commission and OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Office (DIHRO) who are in Yerevan on a working visit also participated
in the discussion. Ambassador Christian Shtrohal, Director of OSCE
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office, mentioned in his
greeting speech that the holding of the event with joint participation
of Armenia's, OSCE's and CE's representatives is the evidence of
a long-lasting cooperation aimed at contributing to reformation of
democratic processes in Armenia. According to him, the above-mentioned
law adopted a year ago by the NA was sent for an expertise on the
NA's initiative, which is the evidence of parliament's devotion to
pursuing of fulfilment of obligations assumed towards the CE and
correspondence to European standards. The experts had revealed that a
number of provisions of the current law don't correspond to European
standards and the parliament initiated realization of amendments. The
ambassador expressed a hope that finally the law will correspond to
the principles adopted by Europe. From point of view of provision
of pluralism the main right to express opinions is closely connected
with the rights to conduct rallies, processions. Mass events should be
peaceful, disciplined, without violence, appeals sowing religious and
racial discrimination, but the primary is freedom and the limitations
should be exceptions aimed at provision of observance of the law. The
above-mentioned principle was dominating in all speeches of European
experts. Gianni Buquicchio, Secretary of CE Venice Commission, also
mentioned that the CE attaches great importance to having a good law
on conducting meetings in Armenia. According to him, proceeding from
this PACE precisely suggested Armenia amending the current law. The
possibility to completely enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms
is the evidence of the extent of country's democratization. There can
be limitations only in cases fixed by the law but the latters should
be harmonious with the needs of the democratic society. The right
application of the law and exclusion of self-willed limitations by the
respective power links is too important from point of view of complete
recognition of the right to conduct meetings in Armenia. Therefore,
the Venice Commission attaches great importance to the courses to be
organized by the CE for Armenian police in some weeks. The courses
will be followed by other events.
DISCUSSED WITH PARTICIPATION OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIA, OSCE
AND PACE
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the CE Venice
Commission and OSCE Yerevan Office a roundtable on the subject "Freedom
of Holding Meetings: Legislation and Application" was organized
on June 3 at Yerevan "Congress" hotel. The goal of the event was
to discuss RA law "On Conducting Meetings, Rallies, Processions and
Demonstrations," its application, as well as to discuss it from point
of view of correspondence of the draft of law's amendments approved
recently in the first reading at NA to European standards. The event's
organizers tried to combine those bearing the law's influence and
those responsible for law's execution at the discussion. Experts of
CE Venice Commission and OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Office (DIHRO) who are in Yerevan on a working visit also participated
in the discussion. Ambassador Christian Shtrohal, Director of OSCE
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office, mentioned in his
greeting speech that the holding of the event with joint participation
of Armenia's, OSCE's and CE's representatives is the evidence of
a long-lasting cooperation aimed at contributing to reformation of
democratic processes in Armenia. According to him, the above-mentioned
law adopted a year ago by the NA was sent for an expertise on the
NA's initiative, which is the evidence of parliament's devotion to
pursuing of fulfilment of obligations assumed towards the CE and
correspondence to European standards. The experts had revealed that a
number of provisions of the current law don't correspond to European
standards and the parliament initiated realization of amendments. The
ambassador expressed a hope that finally the law will correspond to
the principles adopted by Europe. From point of view of provision
of pluralism the main right to express opinions is closely connected
with the rights to conduct rallies, processions. Mass events should be
peaceful, disciplined, without violence, appeals sowing religious and
racial discrimination, but the primary is freedom and the limitations
should be exceptions aimed at provision of observance of the law. The
above-mentioned principle was dominating in all speeches of European
experts. Gianni Buquicchio, Secretary of CE Venice Commission, also
mentioned that the CE attaches great importance to having a good law
on conducting meetings in Armenia. According to him, proceeding from
this PACE precisely suggested Armenia amending the current law. The
possibility to completely enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms
is the evidence of the extent of country's democratization. There can
be limitations only in cases fixed by the law but the latters should
be harmonious with the needs of the democratic society. The right
application of the law and exclusion of self-willed limitations by the
respective power links is too important from point of view of complete
recognition of the right to conduct meetings in Armenia. Therefore,
the Venice Commission attaches great importance to the courses to be
organized by the CE for Armenian police in some weeks. The courses
will be followed by other events.