On 27 March, Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Liliane Maury Pasquier, who is on an official visit to Armenia.

Chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly, representatives of the PACE delegation and the factions of the National Assembly, as well as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe Paruyr Hovhannisyan and Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Natalia Vutova also participated in the wide-format meeting of the parliamentary speaker and the PACE President.

Greeting the guests, the parliamentary speaker attached importance to the cooperation with the Council of Europe and its institutions and their support to the process of democratic reforms in Armenia.

Talking about the velvet, non-violent revolution that took place in Armenia last year, Ararat Mirzoyan stated that democracy, human rights and freedoms, transparency and the fight against corruption are fundamental values for Armenia and that all this became complete after the snap parliamentary elections held on 9 December 2018. Mirzoyan also expressed gratitude to the PACE for the observation mission and the impartial evaluations of the PACE Monitoring Co-Rapporteurs.

Touching upon the fight against violence and issues on legal equality, Mirzoyan reaffirmed Armenia’s position, stating that Armenia will consistently lead a struggle to protect and guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, the PACE President reaffirmed the support of the PACE to the implementation of reforms and the strengthening of democracy in Armenia. Liliane Maury Pasquier also valued the non-violent revolution in Armenia.

During the meeting, the interlocutors touched upon cooperation programs, the process of ratification of the Istanbul Convention and recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mirzoyan voiced hope that the PACE would address this tragedy.

At the end of the meeting, Liliane Maury Pasquier left a note in the book of guests of honors of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

Afterwards, the high-ranking guest planted an evergreen fir tree in the garden of the parliament.