On June 6, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe Edward Nalbandyan who was in Vienna on a working visit, took part in the meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE and delivered a speech on the issues of the Council of Europe, cooperation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE and priorities of the Armenian Chairmanship in the
Council of Europe.

Speaking on the topic of cooperation between Council of Europe and OSCE, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers said:
“One of the main partners of the Council of Europe in its efforts to promote respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy remains the OSCE and the level of cooperation between the two organisations with a regular pattern of consultations and high-level meetings, is yet another evidence of that. Since 2004, co-operation has been enhanced in particular in the fields of protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, fight against terrorism, fight against trafficking in human beings and promotion of tolerance. The Council of Europe and the OSCE have established close co-operation in number of areas, such as freedom of the media and elections related activities such as the observation of elections. Co-operation between the two organisations is developing also on the ground in some member states where both have field presence.

At the same time there is a common understanding, that we should encourage the two organizations to enhance this co-operation, to exchange information and to coordinate their activities with a view of developing synergies and avoiding duplication.

Armenian chairmanship will spare no efforts to further promote targeted and result oriented cooperation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE.”

Heads of delegations representing the European Union, Russia, United States of America, Andorra, Georgia, Belarus and Switzerland also had speeches during the meeting and congratulating Minister Nalbandyan on the occasion of assuming the chairmanship, expressed the support of their countries in the implementation of priorities of Armenian chairmanship in the Council of Europe.

The Ambassador of Russian Federation to OSCE in his speech noted that Armenia and Russia develop strategic and allied relations.

He pointed out that Russia shares the Armenian view on the priorities of chairmanship in the Council of Europe and supported the goal of Armenia to promote the role of the Council of Europe in European affairs which “fully coincides with the Russian position on that organization as one of the most important European institutions that can assist building Greater Europe without borderlines”.

The head of the US delegation said:
“Armenia and the USA have a firm cooperation on a wide range of issues as maintaining regional peace and security, encouraging trade and investments, strengthening democracy and the rule of law. The United States highly appreciates the role of Armenia in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

We wish much success to the Armenian chairmanship in the Council of Europe.”
The representative of the EU in OSCE congratulated Armenia for assuming presidency in the Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe and supported the Armenian decision to underline priorities which are also on the agenda of the OSCE.

He pointed out that the Armenian priorities include promotion of European values, fight against racism and xenophobia and organization of a high-level conference on this issue.

The meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE was followed by official dinner in the name of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe Edward Nalbandyan.