OREANDA-NEWS. June 23, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan, who arrived to Strasbourg on a working visit to participated at the plenary meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), met today with a number of high-ranking CE official. The results of these meetings were summarized at the President’s press-conference.

 At the entrance to the main building of the Council of Europe, the President of Armenia was greeted by the President of PACE Mevlet Chavusoglu. At the meeting with the President of PACE, Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of Armenia’s cooperation with the European structures, including the CE.

 In Strasbourg, President Sargsyan met also with the Co-Rapporteur on Armenia of the CE Monitoring Commission John Prescott. The interlocutors discussed democratic reforms in Armenia, and issues related to the freedom of speech and strengthening of the rule of law.

 Mr. Prescott noted that Armenia has registered considerable progress in the area of democracy and protection of human rights which is a result of the Armenian authorities’ determination and efforts.

 Later, President Sargsyan met with the CE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg. The Commissioner for Human Rights praised cooperation of the CE structures with Armenia and underscored in the Council of Europe Armenia is presented to other countries as an example of the impressive results that can be reached through a constructive work with the CE structures.

 In Strasbourg, the President of Armenia visited also the “Roads” photo exhibition of the Armenian photographer Karen Mirzoyan, which was opened on June 20 at the Council of Europe on the occasion of the summer session of the CE and Armenia’s 10th anniversary of membership to this Organization.

 President Serzh Sargsyan met also with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjшrn Jagland. The meeting was followed by the joint press-conference of the President of Armenia and the CE Secretary General Thorbjшrn Jagland.

 (Statement by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the joint Press Conference with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjшrn Jagland is introduced therein under)

 At the meeting with the President of Armenia, Thorbjшrn Jagland underscored that Armenia is a very important member of the Council of Europe which, in addition, is located in a very important for Europe region. The CE Secretary General praised positive developments which are taking place recently in Armenia’s internal life, aimed at the creation of the atmosphere of mutual understanding, and the dialogue between the authorities and the opposition. The parties discussed also reforms currently underway in Armenia and possible assistance of the CE in their implementation. President Sargsyan and Thorbjшrn Jagland spoke also about the forthcoming meeting to be held in the framework of the NK peace process. At the meeting with Jean Paul Costa, President of the European Court of Human Rights, President Serzh Sargsyan noted that the European Court of Human Rights plays an essential role in the formation of the legal system in Armenia. According to the President, it is no accident that domestic courts in their rulings are guided also by the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, regardless of the fact whether the decision was adopted related to the RA or any other country’s legal case. Jean Paul Costa noted that Armenia is an exemplary country from the viewpoint of the dissemination of the European Court related information.