Armenian parliamentary delegation takes part in PACE winter session

ArmInfo.The Armenian parliamentary delegation, headed by the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Foreign Relations Ruben Rubinyan, went to  Strasbourg to attend the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly  of the Council of Europe (PACE) from January 20-26.

According to the press service of the National Assembly of the  Republic of Armenia, MPs Vladimir Vardanyan, Naira Zohrabyan, Michael  Melkoumian, Edmon Marukyan, Hovhannes Igityan, Tatevik Hayrapetyan  and Sos Aviyatn also went to Strasbourg as part of the Armenian  delegation.

During the session, which begins its work on January 21 and will last  until January 25, the results of the work of the organization's  observers at the presidential elections in Georgia (October 28 and  November 28) and parliamentary elections in Armenia (December 9) will  be presented. The parliamentarians also plan to discuss a wide range  of issues - from the problems of objectivity and media freedom to the  protection of human rights in the context of law, security and the  Internet. 

On the first day, the session participants will approve the  composition of the delegations and elect the PACE chairman. According  to the press service of the organization, while the only candidate is  being considered - the current chairman Lilian Mori Pasquier. In the  following days, discussions will take place on topics such as  amending the Venice Commission's code of referendums, the  effectiveness of sanctions for violating human rights, and discussing  the application of Sharia law in the CE countries. The issue of  protecting human rights will also be in the spotlight during the  anti-terrorism debate. The practice of deprivation of citizenship  involved or suspected of involvement in such crimes will be  considered. 

Also, the topic of fundamental rights will be touched upon in the  course of discussions on free and open Internet, the initiators of  which point to unacceptable actions of some online platforms for  large-scale surveillance of users, collection and processing of  personal data. The factor of social networks and the Internet is also  on the agenda of the debate on objectivity and freedom of the media.  On this topic, parliamentarians will submit two draft resolutions for  consideration: on the importance of independently informing citizens  during elections or other democratic processes, as well as on  countering propaganda and disinformation. 

During the winter session, the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto is  expected to speak, as well as that country's Foreign Minister Timo  Soini, who will read out the statement of the Committee of Ministers  of the Council of Europe. Until January 25, delegations are to elect  new judges to the European Court of Human Rights. Three candidates  each came from Italy and Sweden.