OSCE Office presents book on judicial systems to support Armenian judicial reforms

YEREVAN, 15 November 2006 - An OSCE-supported book describing the judicial systems of 33 Council of Europe countries was launched in Yerevan as part of a project that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of advanced legal systems.

"Given the ongoing judicial reforms in Armenia, I believe this is a timely publication and it will be a useful tool for lawyers to take stock of where other OSCE countries stand in reforming their judicial systems," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The book, an Armenian translation of the Council of Europe manual, was prepared by the Training Centre of the General Prosecutor's Office with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

"I am encouraged to see that Armenia is taking steps to strengthen the work of the courts in the field of investigation and general court proceedings, said Berry Kralj, Chief of the ODIHR's Rule of Law Unit. "Independent and impartial courts are the best guarantors of a fair trial and a democratic system based on the rule of law,"

The manual is intended primarily for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, students and non-governmental organizations. Copies can be obtained through the OSCE Office in Yerevan or the Training Centre of the General Prosecutor's Office.