ArmInfo.During his working visit to Strasbourg, Acting Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland during the November 20 meeting highly appreciated the effective cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Council of Europe. The interlocutors exchanged views on a number of issues related to the activities of Armenia in the Council of Europe.
As the Foreign Ministry's press service told ArmInfo, noting the important role of the CoE in protecting democracy and human rights, Mnatsakanyan stressed that the organization's 70th anniversary next year is a good occasion to sum up the achievements and outline the main directions for further work. The interlocutors exchanged views on the effectiveness of the implementation of the existing Armenia-CE action program, as well as the work being carried out to develop a new program. Speaking about the challenges facing the organization, the Armenian Foreign Minister expressed full support for efforts to counteract them, in order to increase the effectiveness of the organization's activities and its credibility.
At the same time, Mnatsakanyan expressed concern over political speculations on a number of issues related to the Council of Europe, in particular, concerning the promotion of European values and protection of human rights. The parties mutually stressed the importance of cooperation on the above issues.
Speaking about the upcoming extraordinary parliamentary elections, the Acting Minister stressed that holding free, fair and transparent elections is a priority of the Armenian government.