In reference to assuming the presidency in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Minister Nalbandian was in Strasbourg and had an agenda full of bilateral meetings.

Edward Nalbandian’s first meeting was with Gilbert Saboya Sunyé, Foreign Minister of Andorra, which assumed the presidency of CoE earlier.

Minister Nalbandian congratulated Andorran counterpart in reference to the successful presidency in the Council of Europe noting that during the last 6 months sufficient work has been done concerning the implementation of the priorities of Andorra’s presidency as well as to push forward the goals of ther organization.

Gilbert Saboya Sunye expressed gratitude for the support to the initiatives of his country’s presidency and assured that during its presidency the Armenian side will get full support from Andorra.

The sides discussed many issues concerning the agenda of the CoE. Foreign Minister of Armenia met Jean Claude Mignon, President of the PACE.

Congratulating Armenia’s Foreign Minister in reference to assuming the presidency of the Council of Europe, the President of the PACE qualified it as historically important and expressed hope that there will be effective cooperation between the presidency of Armenia and PACE, which will contribute to the implementation of the organization’s tasks.

During the conversation the sides referred to the work of PACE, as well as issues concerning the organization of the session PACE Bureau in the framework of Armenia’s presidency in the CoE.

Foreign Minister of Armenia also met Espen Barth Eide, Foreign Minister of Norway.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction that during the recent years bilateral relations have significantly developed as there have been high-level mutual visits, the legal framework has expanded. The sides also agreed to continue the steps towards the development of the relations.

The sides exchanged thoughts concerning regional issues. Edward Nalbandian presented to his Norwegian counterpart the efforts made by Armenia and international community towards the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

At the meeting of Edward Nalbandian and Frans Timmermans Foreign Minister of the Netherlands both sides highlighted the importance of the opening of the Embassy of Armenia in The Hague two years ago, which was an important stimulus for the development of relations.

In the context of Armenia’s presidency in the CoE the Ministers referred to issues concerning the agenda and reforms of the organization.

Edward Nalbandian and France Timmermans exchanged views on the Syrian crisis and on ways of its settlement. At the request of his counterpart, the Minister of Armenia presented the efforts made by Armenia and international community towards the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In Strasbourg Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Andreas Mavroyiannis, the Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary of Cyprus. The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry of Cyprus congratulated Armenia on assuming the presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and expressed confidence that by undertaking the presidency Armenia for the first time will have an important contribution to the increase of the role of the pan-European organization which deals with the protection of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The sides referred to the steps taken for the further strengthening of Armenian –Cyprus friendly relations and highlighted that in recent years there has been significant progress in that area.
Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary of Cyprus presented the steps taken by the Government in order to overcome the financial crisis.

On May 16, in the foyer of the Council of Europe's Committee sessions the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Armenia: The Secret of Stones’’ was held, which was attended by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, PACE President, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, heads of high-level delegations who came to Strasbourg in order to take part in the session of Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

“Armenia is a land of high mountains and it is natural that stone is the first means of artistic expression for us, which has transformed into a language of art. If it is the art with which Armenians were able to express their creative soul, then, first of all it was by means of architecture. It has been developing in an original way through ages becoming an integral part of the international culture.

And we are happy to present it at the CoE through this exhibition in the context of Armenia’s presidency’’ said Edward Nalbandian.