On October 6 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muižnieks.

Welcoming the guest Minister Nalbandian highlighted the role of the Council of Europe, and particularly, the role of the Commissioner for Human Rights aimed at defending Human Rights in the CoE member- states.

Minister Nalbandian noted that “in the sphere of human rights defence we attach importance to cooperation with the CoE as well as various International institutions. Armenia has ratified all of UN's main documents related to the sphere of human rights and has made appropriate reforms in that direction.”

Thanking for the reception Nils Muižnieks stated that he came to Yerevan with a full work agenda aimed at deepening more productive cooperation with various institutions of Armenia in the field of human rights protection.

Minister Nalbandian and Commissioner Muižnieks positively evaluated the implementation process of the Action Plan between Armenia and the CoE for the period 2012-2014.

The role of implementation of the “National Strategic Plan of Action in the Sphere of Human Rights Protection in Armenia” for the following 3 years, approved by the Government of Armenia, was underlined.

Minister Nalbandian drew the attention of the Council of Europe Commissioner to the gross violation of the norms as well as basic principles of International Humanitarian Law in Azerbaijan as a result of which cruel treatment has been shown towards the Armenian civilians who find themselves in the territory of Azerbaijan, which very often causes their death.

Upon the request of the guest the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian presented the joint efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Countries towards peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.