Premier Nikol Pashinyan today had a meeting with President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Liliane Maury Pasquier at the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister stated that the Council of Europe (CoE) and the PACE are major partners for Armenia for the development of democracy and reinforcement of civil society. According to him, the launch of political reforms last year was linked to these processes. “The Government of the Republic of Armenia has a big agenda for democratic reforms, and the active cooperation with European institutions, including the CoE and the PACE are of major significance for effective implementation of those reforms,” Pashinyan said and attached importance to his upcoming visit to Strasbourg in April.

The PACE President stated that she was glad to meet Armenia’s Prime Minister and discuss issues on cooperation. According to her, the PACE has closely followed and continues to follow the developments unfolding in Armenia and welcomes the fact that the political reforms are being implemented in a peaceful and non-violent manner. “Citizens of Armenia managed to achieve democratic reforms peacefully, and this is a great achievement for Armenia,” Pasquier said and touched upon the results of the snap parliamentary elections, adding that the fact that the majority of citizens cast their votes for the political party led by Armenia’s Prime Minister is a great support to the government to implement the reforms. Pasquier assured that the CoE and the PACE are ready to support Armenia in this process.

The interlocutors discussed the perspectives for deepening of the bilateral partnership. Pashinyan stated that the strengthening and institutional development of democracy and, in this context, the ongoing empowerment of political institutions, the reinforcement and strengthening of courts, including the functioning of an independent judiciary, strengthening of freedom of expression are the priorities of the government.

The PACE President welcomed the initiative to undertake reforms in the mentioned sectors.

Expressing gratitude to the PACE President for her willingness, Pashinyan stated that Armenia is a full-fledged member of the CoE and the PACE and is interested in enhancing partnership with European institutions in order to raise the standards of democracy in Armenia since the citizens of Armenia have earned that right, and the government will do its best to ensure that to the best of its ability.