YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. "Under conditions of the current confusion of the system of values and the existing problems and difficulties typical of a transitional period, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia has established itself as an institution in line with the standards set for such structures at this stage." Gagik Harutyunian, Chairman of the RA Constitutional Court (CC), stated this at an event held on February 6 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of formation of the RA CC. Speaker of the RA National Assembly Artur Baghdasarian also described the CC as an institution that has established itself in Armenia. In his words, the CC has sufficient authority both in the country and abroad. In the opinion of the RA Justice Minister David Harutyunian, although at the time the adoption of the Constitution brought about radical changes in the country's life, the following 10 years did not see the anticipated results. The minister qualified the constitutional amendments of 2005 as a great victory. According to him, these amendments will in particular allow to inhance the role of the Constitutional Court. Hovhannes Manukian, Chairman of the RA Cassation Court, expresed an opinion that the constitutional amendments have created efficient mechanisms for an independent judicial system. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the RA Constitutional Court, the NA Speaker presented the CC Chairman with a gold medal and the CC members - with name watches and letters of thanks. The RA CC Chairman in his turn presented a medal symbolizing constitutional justice to Judge Alvina Gyulumian, RA CC's former member currently representing Armenia in the European Court. To recap, in the past 10 years, about 2,500 applications were filed to the RA Constitutional Court that made 754 rulings and examined 617 cases on constitutionality-related issues during court sittings.

---