THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR IN YEREVAN
Dear participants of the International Seminar.
Ladies and gentlemen.
In the first place I want to extend my gratitude to all delegations from many countries who have accepted our invitation and given their agreement to take part in the work of this important seminar.
It is also my desire to show appreciation to the Venice Commission, all its members who have honored us with their presence, for the efficient cooperation and assistance.
I have also to thank the US Agency of International Development and the Budapest Institute of Constitutional and Legal Politics for the active assistance to our projects.
Dear friends.
It is not a secret that the specialized judicial system of constitutional control is the birth of the 20th century and the fruit of the European public culture. This system has a tremendous development potential for public benefit. I strongly believe that constitutional control, in its perfect and entire expression will become a phenomenon of the 21st century.
In the 20th century the systematic research and experiments with the public welfare claimed about 130 million human lives, resulting in no substantial new solution whatsoever. While today, the supreme problem of medical science is to conquer the immune deficiency in the human body, there is an increasing understanding of the idea to drive the immune deficiency away from the human society, to impart dynamism and integrity to development, to eliminate the reproduction of irrationality in public relations.
A pivotal role in resolving this problem belongs to specialized entities of constitutional control. We represent those entities, and our efficient work largely depends upon the active international cooperation. This is particularly true of newly independent states which have multiple similar problems emerging in transitional periods and urgently awaiting solutions that can be reached more speedily by joint efforts.
An important place among those problems belongs to the problem of establishing a reliable system of constitutional protection of human rights and freedoms, which is the subject of the current seminar.
It is our belief that the multifaceted discussion of a programmed agenda with experienced specialists from many countries will largely contribute to efficient operation of constitutional courts as well as uncover new methods in resolving relevant systemic problems.
Prior to introducing the participants of the Seminar, I wish to inform that you have a good opportunity to congratulate the Constitutional Courts of Armenia, Georgia and Moldova on the occasion of becoming the observer members of this body by the Oct. 8 decision of the XI preparatory conference of the Chairs of the Europe's constitutional courts.
Now about the operation of the Seminar.
Taking part in the Second International Seminar in Yerevan are:
Individual delegations and representatives have arrived from 19 countries.
Taking part in the work of the Seminar are the Chairmen of Constitutional Courts from the Russian Federation, Georgia, Serbia, Croatia, Latvia, Belarus, Moldova, Tajikistan.
Being currently on a bilateral official visit in Armenia and taking part in our Seminar is a large delegation of the Guarding Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by the Chairman of the Council.
The Armenian Republic is represented at the Seminar by the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, members of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Justice, Chairman of Supreme Court, Chief Prosecutor, Chairmen and delegates of the Parliamentary Commissions, specialists from the staffs of the RA President, National Assembly, Government, Constitutional Court, representatives of different organizations, scientists, teachers, journalists.
Dear participants of the Seminar.
As you have been informed by the Program, in the course of the three days of very intensive work you will hear several scores of presentations and discussions, everyone will have the chance to pursue their relevant subjects during discussions at the round tables.
It is also my pleasure to inform that the printed materials of the Seminar are to be made available in their entirety in Armenian, English, French and Russian.
The results of this seminar will have an exceptionally large significance for Armenia, since it will help to find the much sought and desired model of the protection of human rights which will make the solution of that problem reliable and guaranteed in the country that has hit the road to developing democracy.
I wish the participants of the Seminar a fruitful and efficient course of study and work, the visitors are welcome to enjoy their stay in Armenia.