On April 8, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Maria Peychinovich Burich. The meeting was held within the framework of the official visit of the Council of Ministers to Armenia.
At the meeting, issues of partnership between Armenia and the Council of Europe and regional stability were discussed.
Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the critical and practical cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Council of Europe aimed at implementing the priorities and reform agenda of the RA government in the areas of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and the protection of human rights. In this context, reference was made to implementing the RA-CE 2023-2026 Action Plan. Minister Mirzoyan also emphasized the quick response of the Council of Ministers after the military attack against Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan in September last year and the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the importance of adapting the said program to address new challenges.
Thoughts were exchanged on addressing the mid-term and long-term needs of the rights of more than 100,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the vulnerable groups, about which Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that the RA government continues its efforts in that direction, including with the support of international partners.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe referred to the steps to establish a stable and lasting peace in the South Caucasus. In this context, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the commitment and efforts of Armenia, noting the importance of creating an atmosphere free from hostility and a clear commitment to key issues. The head of the RA foreign political department presented RA’s approach to two critical issues in regulating relations with Azerbaijan: reaffirming the recognition of territorial integrity, the inseparability of borders, and unblocking regional channels. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of adherence to the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the well-known principles of international law in the process.
