“We simply discussed working issues with representatives from the European Parliament that deal with collaborations between Armenia and the European Parliament, as well as conventions dealing with the fight against domestic violence,” head of the National Assembly Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Vladimir Vardanyan, told reporters in parliament.
A closed session was held between the National Assembly Committees on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, State and Legal Affairs, and on Regional and Eurasian Integration, which representatives from the European Parliament, Vice President of the Venice Commission Veronika Bilkova and President of GREVIO Marceline Naudi, also participated in. There were stories published in the media that the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and societal stereotypes would be discussed during the session.
“The Istanbul Convention is not a part of the National Assembly’s agenda. It has not been officially put into circulation,” Vladimir Vardanyan announced, noting that a process needs to be followed in order for the issue to reach parliament.
“We need to clarify one thing: Armenia is a member of the European Parliament, so we have to move along that path. This does not refer to any specific process, but instead to discussions. I am surprised that the Istanbul Convention has received such a response. There are other conventions that our country ratified that could be even more significant,” Vladimir Vardanyan said, denying that ‘secret diplomacy’ is underway.
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The European Parliament representatives did not wish to answer reporters’ questions.
Nelly Grigoryan
