YEREVAN. – There are some European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) recommendations which run fundamentally contrary to the system of values of the Armenian society, but there also are recommendations that will find their place in the draft constitutional amendments. 

Ruling Republican Party of Armenia MP Artak Zakaryan, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, stated the abovementioned at a press conference on Wednesday. He stated this reflecting on the new draft Constitution article on same-sex marriages.

In his words, even though not all Venice Commission recommendations are acceptable for Armenia, its viewpoint will be taken into account.

“We will try to get an option that will be more acceptable,” added Zakaryan.

Christoph Grabenwarter, an Austrian member of the Venice Commission, had noted at a press conference on Tuesday in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan that, pursuant to the European Court of Human Rights, same-sex marriages should be allowed. 

The Venice Commission had earlier recommended that Articles 15 and 34 of the new draft Constitution of Armenia should not be perceived as a ban on gay marriage.