On October 11 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Tigran Torosyan received the delegation headed by the Director General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe , Mr. Guy De Vel. The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Boyana Urumova and the Permanent Representative, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe Mr. Christian Ter-Stepanian also attended the meeting.

During the meeting the NA President Mr. Tigran Torosyan informed about the legislative amendments made after the referendum. He especially noted about the abolition of the administrative custody, which has been done at the level of the Constitution, the amendment to the law on Constitutional Court, the broadening of the applicants’ circle to the Constitutional Court, the laws concerning the judicial system. The adoption of laws and their sending for an expert assessment simultaneously was explained by time issues, as conditioned by the forthcoming general elections the National Assembly can work more efficiently till the end of the year, and the 2007 Spring Session coincides with the period of parliamentary pre-electoral campaign.

Director General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe , Mr. Guy De Vel thanked the President of the National Assembly for the efficient cooperation and expressed readiness to continue it. He noted that Armenia has greatly met its obligations, adopted important laws for democratic development, which are already exposed to expert assessment. The two parties stressed the importance of the reforms of the judicial system and the adoption of the Judicial Code, which will be a document for these reforms. Mr. Guy De Vel touched upon with contentment the debate of the Electoral Code with the experts of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Mr. Tigran Torosyan highlighted the importance of adopting the Electoral Code till the end of the year with first and second readings.

During the meeting draft laws that are in circulation were also discussed, especially the draft law on Television and Radio. Stressing the importance of adopting this draft law within the framework of constitutional amendments Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted, that the Parliament will try to adopt a relevant draft law before the end of the year. The draft law on the City of Yerevan and other issues of mutual importance were also discussed.