YEREVAN.- Acting Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian and Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland on Wednesday signed a memorandum on the opening of the Council of Europe office in Yerevan.

During a press conference following the signing ceremony, CoE Secretary General underscored importance of the upcoming Armenia’s presidency in the Council of Europe.  

During the meeting officials discussed Armenia’s presidency program which conforms to the agenda and approaches of the Council of Europe, Jagland said.

Armenia’s presidency will coincide with very important period of reforms and talks on EU’s joining the European Convention on Human Rights, and becoming a party to European Court of Human Rights.

“It will be a historic event. We hope that during Armenia’s presidency, the Council of Europe will be able to reach progress,” Jagland said.

Secretary General noted that Armenia passed a long 12-year path of membership to the Council of Europe and has carried out reforms in this direction.

Thorbjorn Jagland welcomed the establishment of a working group for the implementation of the recommendations of the European observers and the initiative to create a new ad hoc committee on the March 1, 2008 events.

“We have great expectations from Armenia’s presidency in the Council of Europe,” he said.

In his turn, acting FM Edward Nalbandian said over the years Armenia has made significant progress on the path of reforms in the field of human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Nalbandian presented the Secretary General the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the efforts of Armenia, international community and mediators.