Vigen Kocharyan accepts delegation of the Advisory Committee on the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

On 6 April, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Vigen Kocharyan received the delegation of the Advisory Committee on the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities headed by Vice President of the Committee Ivana Jelić.

During the meeting, a number of issues concerning the protection of national minorities were discussed.

Vigen Kocharyan assured the members of the delegation that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia attach great importance to the ensuring of rights of national minorities, creation of broad opportunities for the representatives thereof in various sectors and implement a relevant policy in this direction. In this context, the Deputy Minister presented a number of legislative steps that have already been carried out and are planned to be carried out in relation to the rights of national minorities.

In particular, the Deputy Minister touched upon the relevant norm of the newly-adopted Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, which provides the national minorities with an opportunity to be represented in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the regulations envisaged by the draft of the new Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia in relation thereof.

Among the steps concerning the sector and those to be undertaken in future, Vigen Kocharyan also presented that laws on national minorities and on prevention of discrimination are being drafted. He underlined that these activities will be carried out in close co-operation with international organisations, representatives of the civil society and the national minorities, with a view to ensuring the exercise of their rights in line with the best European standards.

In this respect, the members of the delegation expressed readiness to assist in the process of international expertise of drafts.

Afterwards, the Deputy Minister responded to some sector-related questions that were of interest to the members of the delegation.

At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed readiness to extend an effective co-operation.