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On June 22, the RA NA Vice President Arpine Hovhannisyan delivered a speech at the 115^th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission. In her word, she touched upon the recent events occurred in our country and the upcoming amendments to the Electoral Code.

According to Arpine Hovhannisyan, the joint work of the previous years is a bridge for the stable development of the democratic institutes in Armenia, and the recommendations and conclusions by the Venice Commission have been very important in the formation of democracy. It was succeeded to pass the power through peaceful means.

Touching upon the issue of amending the Electoral Code Arpine Hovhannisyan noted: “We expressed readiness to take part in the amendments of the Electoral Code by the agenda proposed by the Prime Minister. Taking into consideration the fact that we have a good experience of amending and passing an Electoral Code based on the agreement of all political parties and the civil society, which, by the way, has been proposed and welcomed by the Venice Commission- at present we have formed such an inclusive working group in the parliament. Two days ago all political forces represented in the National Assembly made a statement, expressing their readiness of creating a working group for amending the Electoral Code and being involved in it.”

To the NA Vice President’s word, we already have a good experience of holding elections which took place a year ago, evaluated as well organized and where the fundamental rights, in general, have been preserved. “This is not my assessment, but also the international observation mission, including the OSCE/ODIHR, so this should be the basis, on which the elections will be held,” Arpine Hovhannisyan noted.

After the speeches delivered by the NA Vice President and the RA Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan the President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio has underlined that it is important to organize the elections in accordance with the principles of the Venice Commission: in inclusive and transparent way, discussing the concerned sides’ all recommendations to reach consensus and after the adoption of the Electoral Code the parties will have sufficient time for taking part in the elections.