YEREVAN. – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is interested in the democratic reforms, independent judiciary, and constitutional reforms in Armenia.  

Oksana Antonenko, a Senior Political Counselor at the EBRD, stated the aforementioned at her meeting on Monday with Hovhannes Manukyan, the Minister of Justice of Armenia. 

Antonenko noted that the bank is interested in the ongoing constitutional reforms in Armenia. 

Manukyan, for his part, highly praised the country’s cooperation with the EBRD, and presented the activities that were carried out towards implementing constitutional reforms in Armenia.

The minister informed that quite intense and extensive public debates were held in the country, and with respect to the proposed concept for constitutional reforms. In his words, this concept envisions the introduction of effective mechanisms for the separation of the branches of power and, as a result, the full independence of the country’s judiciary will be ensured.

The EBRD representative also asked about the degree of civil society involvement in the law-making process in Armenia. In this respect, the minister of justice informed that the country’s government underscores the discourse with the civil society and its involvement in the making of decisions of public importance.