RA FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL AND
PACE CHAIRWOMAN IN STRASBOURG
STRASBOURG, MAY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
met with Terry Davis, the Secretary General of Council of Europe, and
Luis Maria de Puig, the Chairwoman of PACE, on May 6 in Strasbourg. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, during the meeting both sides expressed
satisfaction with Council of Europe-Armenia close cooperation, in
particular, within the framework of program of support to cooperation
actions carried out by Council of Europe, attached importance to
interested dialogue in the direction of deepening of democracy and
strengthening of supremacy of law in Armenia especially at this stage.
In this connection the RA Foreign Minister praised, in particular,
cooperation between RA delegation and PACE in PACE, which was lately
manifested during the discussion on activity of democratic institutions
in Armenia during the PACE spring session. The RA Foreign Minister said
that the provisions of the resolution adopted in this connection are in
the focus of attention of the RA authorities.
E. Nalbandian informed his interlocutors that a working group has been
created by the order of the RA President for the purpose of
coordination of fulfilment of the proposals included in PACE resolution
N 1609. The group has been charged in a short time to present proposals
about their further steps. The Minister said that Armenia’s political
coalition has already made a statement and expressed readiness to
consistently fulfil reforms aimed at solution of problems stipulated by
preelection programs, coalition agreement, government’s actions plan,
and PACE resolution N 1609. They, in particular, regard expansion of
possibilities of opposition in the political sphere, considerable rise
of public confidence to electoral processes, strengthening of freedom
of speech and independence of media activity, completely bringing the
court system in line with the European standards. The reforms to be
implemented are to contribute to development of stable democratic
institutions and guaranteeing supremacy of law in Armenia. E.
Nalbandian emphasized that they will be done not only because the
commitments assumed by Armenia towards CE dictate so, but because it is
the realized choice of the Armenian people.
He said that a working group has been also created in the Armenian
National Assembly for the purpose of studying proposals of
international and professional organizations on improving the electoral
processes in connection with the presidential elections and presenting
proposals of perfection of the Electoral Code and electoral processes
to NA. The working group is to present proposals worked out on
perfection of legislative processes to the NA Speaker until June 20.
During the meetings E. Nalbandian also presented the state of
negotiations of Nagorno Karabakh settlement to the Council of Europe
Secretary General and PACE Chairwoman. He reaffirmed Armenia’s
readiness to continue the current process taking as a basis the OSCE
Minsk Group’s proposals they had presented to the sides during the
Madrid Ministerial Conference. The Minister said that it gives a
possibility to record progress in the direction of problem’s settlement
if the sides do not take steps hindering the negotiations. He attached
importance to creation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence to achieve
real results in the negotiations.
Issues of Council of Europe-Armenia cooperation were discussed during
the working meeting with Ambassador-members of Ago Group in the midday
the same day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress