Strasbourg meetings: Armenia reaffirms democratic path on 25th Anniversary of CoE membership

ArmInfo. During his working visit to Strasbourg, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held separate meetings with the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Matthias Guyomar, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Petra Bayr.

According to the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Mirzoyan and Guyomar exchanged views on cooperation between Armenia and the ECHR, ensuring the rule of law, and promoting an independent judiciary. The parties noted with satisfaction Armenia's active involvement in the Court's work at various levels.

The parties discussed the implementation of ECHR rulings. The Armenian Foreign Minister noted Armenia's high performance in enforcing court decisions and closing supervisory proceedings, emphasizing Armenia's commitment to consistently implementing reforms in the areas of democratic principles and human rights protection.

"Armenia stands with the Court, first and foremost with the principles and values underlying its work, and attaches great importance to cooperation with the ECHR in advancing the democratic agenda for the benefit of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia," Mirzoyan emphasized.

During the meeting with the PACE President, the Armenian Foreign Minister congratulated her on her election as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Mirzoyan also noted that his visit to Strasbourg is symbolic, as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of Armenia's membership in the Council of Europe. In this vein, he emphasized the importance of cooperation with the CoE on the path to democratic development. "Armenia is a democratic state, and this is an irreversible process, as we continue to adhere to an ambitious program of democratic reforms despite various challenges," the Armenian Foreign Minister added. The interlocutors emphasized the importance of interparliamentary cooperation, as evidenced by the active participation of the Armenian delegation in PACE. Mirzoyan and Bayr also exchanged views on regional developments. Mirzoyan detailed the ongoing steps to strengthen and institutionalize the peace following the August 8, 2025, agreements in Washington  between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Humanitarian issues were also discussed.

The Armenian Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for PACE's continued support  on issues critical to Armenia.