An international conference dated to the 15th anniversary of the Armenian Constitution kicked off in Yerevan on October 22, bringing together Venice Commission Chairman Gianni Buquicchio, Armenian Ambassador to Hans-Jochen Schmidt, judges of the European Court of Human Rights, Armenian Constitutional Court Chairman Gagik Harutyunyan and other officials.

“Germany is closely cooperating with Armenia in human rights protection field and is willing to continue this cooperation,” Ambassador Schmidt said in his opening remarks.

Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Ann Power (Ireland), noted for her part that the ECHR secures human rights protection and has an impact of the evolution of the country which accepts the jurisdiction of the European Court.

Commenting on Ireland’s example, she said that the ECHR first brought a verdict against her country in 1879, thus considerably influencing development of the national law.

“I think the Court will have a similar influence on Armenia,” Power said.