Armenians ‘Unaware Of Constitutional Reform’

[04.03.2005]

Less than one in ten Armenians knows what President Robert Kocharian and his
ruling coalition want to change in Armenia's post-Soviet constitution, according
to an opinion poll released on Friday.

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), a private
think-tank which conducted the survey, said only 8.4 percent of 1,500 people
randomly polled across the country were aware of the draft constitutional
amendments put forward by Kocharian and his allies. About half of the
respondents said they have only “heard” about them.


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Venice Commission discusses Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Italy
and Serbia

[10.03.2005]

The constitutional situation in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the powers of the High Representative, judicial reform in
Georgia and the status of South Ossetia, media freedom in Italy - these are
among the items on the agenda of the plenary session of the Council of Europe’s
Venice Commission which will take place on 11 and 12 March in Venice, in the
Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.

The laws on the conflict of interest and on principles governing the
broadcasting system of Italy and the draft law on religious organisations of
Serbia are also on the agenda of the 62nd plenary of the Venice Commission. It
will also express its opinion on the law on public meetings and on draft
amendments to the electoral code of Armenia.

All adopted opinions will be available on the website of the Venice Commission
shortly after the session: www.venice.coe.int 


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European Interior Ministers Debate Anti-Terrorism and Organised Crime
Measures at Council of Europe Warsaw Conference

[14.03.2005]

Interior Ministers from Council of Europe member states
are to meet in Warsaw for a conference reviewing new measures at European level
to combat terrorism and organised crime (17 and 18 March).

The ministers will discuss new European standards and more efficient practical
measures for the fight against terrorism and organised crime. They will focus on
special investigative techniques, the protection of witnesses, controlling money
laundering and the financing of terrorism, and the prevention of terrorism and
serious crime. Drafts of two new conventions and three recommendations will be
on the table. These have been drawn up by experts to stop terrorism and other
forms of serious crime in the early, preparative stages. Among these is the
draft convention on the prevention of terrorism which will soon be finalised,
and which proposes criminalising preparatory acts such as: public provocation of
terrorism, recruitment and training.

For more information please visit http://www.coe.int/2005-warsaw 


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