With the joint efforts of the Prosecutor General's Office, European Union and Council of Europe, the presentation of the Armenian collection of Օpinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors was held in Yerevan on November 15, 2024.

The purpose of the event was to announce the availability of the Armenian translation of the Օpinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (hereinafter referred to as “the Opinion”), highlight their importance, and discuss the specifics related to the practical application of the Օpinions.

The Armenian translation and publication of the Opinions were carried out as part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”.

In her welcome speech, Anna Vardapetyan, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, highlighted the work of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors, which includes, inter alia, the development and adoption of opinions on issues of fundamental importance to prosecutorial activity. According to Anna Vardapetyan, access to these Օpinions allows prosecutors to work within domestic legal systems in accordance with the standards of the Council of Europe.

“One of the priorities of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia is to ensure closer cooperation with international and regional professional organisations, to align the professional skills and image of prosecutors with the standards of the international community and the Council of Europe. To achieve the abovementioned, the minimum requirement is the accessibility of information, as well as its direct and active application. The translation and publication of the Opinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors are among the first steps taken in this direction.

I am confident that this publication will become the handbook for prosecutors working in Armenia,"- said Anna Vardapetyan, expressing her gratitude to the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the officials for their effective cooperation. 

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia emphasized that the cooperation of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia with the European Union and the Council of Europe has strong traditions and, especially in recent years, has entered a qualitatively new phase of development. "Prosecutors play an influential role in society, and it is very important that through their actions, they uphold the rule of law, justice, and impartiality, as recommended in the Opinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors" - Anna Vardapetyan said.

Maxime Longangué, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, welcomed the participants of the event and  emphasised the Council of Europe’s unwavering support for Armenia’s justice reforms. He mentioned: “I want to assure you that the Council of Europe remains fully committed to supporting Armenia’s efforts to reform its justice system and raise prosecutorial standards. Today’s event is another important milestone in our partnership. We are proud of the progress we’ve made, and we are committed to being alongside you every step of the way.”

Mr. Frank Hess, Head of Cooperation section at EU Delegation to Armenia at the European Union to Armenia underscored the EU’s commitment to supporting Armenia in strengthening its prosecutorial system. He stated: “It is important to capitalise on the accumulated expertise and knowledge to raise the awareness on European standards regarding the role of prosecutors in fighting corruption and organised crime. Together with the Armenian stakeholders, our aim is to achieve an independent prosecutorial system most in line with the European standards”.

Mrs. Lilit Daneghian, Deputy Head of Co-operation Programmes Division, Council of Europe, stated: “This year, we were pleased to respond to the Prosecutor General’s request to publish an updated compilation of the Opinions, ensuring they are accessible to prosecutors across the country and available in law school libraries for future practitioners”.

During the thematic session of the event, №14 Opinion of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors was presented, which addresses the role of prosecutors in the fight against corruption and related economic-financial crimes, as well as current challenges in detecting corruption-related offenses, among other topics."