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Press releases
13
07, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working meeting pertaining to the problems existing in Armenia’s judicial system
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working meeting pertaining to the problems existing in Armenia’s judicial system.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Gagik Harutyunian, Chief Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian, Head of the RA National Security Service Gorik Hakopian, Chief of Police Alik Sarkissian, Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumian, Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmassian, Representative of the Armenian Government at the European Court of Human Rights Gevork Kostanian.
The President of Armenia noted that today’s meeting was a part of the meeting series dedicated to the discussion of the issues existing in the judicial and legal field. Addressing the participants of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan spoke about priority issues in the framework of the reforms conducted in that area, necessity to ensure accessibility of justice for all people, and works which are needed to ensure more transparent and efficient activities of the courts. According to the President of Armenia, these priorities have been in the core of the discussions related to the problems existing in the system and, naturally, will remain as such.
“Our main task remains the same: to change qualitatively and principally the attitude of the public toward justice conducted today in our country through the implementation of new ideas and new approaches. This is a principal issue for us,” the President underscored.
According to Serzh Sargsyan, lately certain work has already been done aimed at the development of the judicial system and positive results have already become noticeable and it shouldn’t go unnoticed. However, according to the President, the process of addressing problems existing in the system inevitably raises a question: is it possible to achieve desirable results in this area only through institutional or legislative changes?
“I don’t think so. Current challenges objectively require that institutional reforms aimed at the improvement of the system display themselves in a speedy and practical way and have direct and prominent implication on these problems. These problems are critical and urgent. Our main task remains the same: to change qualitatively and principally the attitude of the public toward justice conducted today in our country through the implementation of new ideas and new approaches. This is a principal issue for us.
Nowadays it can already be stated that sense of justice and perception of law in our society have undergone serious changes: people apply for lawyers’ assistance more often, the number of individuals appealing to the courts for the protection of their rights is rising and, consequently, the number of lawsuits increases too. However, can the increase of lawsuits be a measure of greater trust in our court system? I believe the answer is negative and it should be stated that here we have things to reckon about.
In this context, we should note that lack of trust in courts on behalf of public at large remains an unsolved and urgent issue. Moreover, reasons which produce this negative phenomenon, lie on the surface, right before our eyes and it makes the existing discontent more prominent and justify the existing doubts.
Among these reasons are imperfect processes which must ensure swift and efficient court proceedings. Let’s agree that prolonged and constantly postponed lawsuits, court proceedings which last for months even years will not only hinder greater trust toward the court system but also cast a doubt at the legality and fairness of the decisions adopted as a results of such proceedings. In addition, preliminary investigation in some cases drags on for months and it means that even the most fair and objective court decision will not have the implication it should.
Thus, in course of this meeting I expect you to present concrete proposals which are substantial and also time-oriented and aimed at the solution of the mentioned problems.
There is no doubt that these and many other problems raised in the context of the reformation of the judicial system demand hard daily work from you, from all of us resulting in comprehensive and principled solutions,” President Sargsyan said.
At the meeting, the Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmassian presented a report on the reforms conducted at the judicial system in 2009-2011, as well as the draft of the strategic plan for the development of the judicial system for 2012-2014.
Assistant of the President Georgi Kutoyan presented a report on the issues which have negative implications on the swift and efficient judicial trial.
President Serzh Sargsyan instructed the heads of relevant agencies with tasks regarding content and timeframe for implementation of the reported issues.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Gagik Harutyunian, Chief Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian, Head of the RA National Security Service Gorik Hakopian, Chief of Police Alik Sarkissian, Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumian, Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmassian, Representative of the Armenian Government at the European Court of Human Rights Gevork Kostanian.
The President of Armenia noted that today’s meeting was a part of the meeting series dedicated to the discussion of the issues existing in the judicial and legal field. Addressing the participants of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan spoke about priority issues in the framework of the reforms conducted in that area, necessity to ensure accessibility of justice for all people, and works which are needed to ensure more transparent and efficient activities of the courts. According to the President of Armenia, these priorities have been in the core of the discussions related to the problems existing in the system and, naturally, will remain as such.
“Our main task remains the same: to change qualitatively and principally the attitude of the public toward justice conducted today in our country through the implementation of new ideas and new approaches. This is a principal issue for us,” the President underscored.
According to Serzh Sargsyan, lately certain work has already been done aimed at the development of the judicial system and positive results have already become noticeable and it shouldn’t go unnoticed. However, according to the President, the process of addressing problems existing in the system inevitably raises a question: is it possible to achieve desirable results in this area only through institutional or legislative changes?
“I don’t think so. Current challenges objectively require that institutional reforms aimed at the improvement of the system display themselves in a speedy and practical way and have direct and prominent implication on these problems. These problems are critical and urgent. Our main task remains the same: to change qualitatively and principally the attitude of the public toward justice conducted today in our country through the implementation of new ideas and new approaches. This is a principal issue for us.
Nowadays it can already be stated that sense of justice and perception of law in our society have undergone serious changes: people apply for lawyers’ assistance more often, the number of individuals appealing to the courts for the protection of their rights is rising and, consequently, the number of lawsuits increases too. However, can the increase of lawsuits be a measure of greater trust in our court system? I believe the answer is negative and it should be stated that here we have things to reckon about.
In this context, we should note that lack of trust in courts on behalf of public at large remains an unsolved and urgent issue. Moreover, reasons which produce this negative phenomenon, lie on the surface, right before our eyes and it makes the existing discontent more prominent and justify the existing doubts.
Among these reasons are imperfect processes which must ensure swift and efficient court proceedings. Let’s agree that prolonged and constantly postponed lawsuits, court proceedings which last for months even years will not only hinder greater trust toward the court system but also cast a doubt at the legality and fairness of the decisions adopted as a results of such proceedings. In addition, preliminary investigation in some cases drags on for months and it means that even the most fair and objective court decision will not have the implication it should.
Thus, in course of this meeting I expect you to present concrete proposals which are substantial and also time-oriented and aimed at the solution of the mentioned problems.
There is no doubt that these and many other problems raised in the context of the reformation of the judicial system demand hard daily work from you, from all of us resulting in comprehensive and principled solutions,” President Sargsyan said.
At the meeting, the Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmassian presented a report on the reforms conducted at the judicial system in 2009-2011, as well as the draft of the strategic plan for the development of the judicial system for 2012-2014.
Assistant of the President Georgi Kutoyan presented a report on the issues which have negative implications on the swift and efficient judicial trial.
President Serzh Sargsyan instructed the heads of relevant agencies with tasks regarding content and timeframe for implementation of the reported issues.