Secretary General Jagland Urges Armenia to Solve Its Own Problems RA President Serzh Sargsyan today met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland and a delegation visiting Armenia for the Forum for the Future of Democracy. On the occasion, President Sargsyan declared that “essential human and citizens’ rights, the defense of the principles of democracy, are the cornerstones of the Republic of Armenia.” He went on to say that Armenia had come a long way since independence in this regard. President Sargsyan confessed, however, that much remained to be done and that Armenia was determined to see the job done. After the official close of the Forum, CoE Secretary General Jagland told reporters that, “The Council of Europe cannot directly interfere with Armenia’s domestic issues.” In response to the question about the persons arrested after the events of March 1, 2008, Mr. Jagland stated that The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights has a strong mandate and has been closely following the processes in Armenia ever since 2008. Thorbjorn Jagland noted at the same time that “the Council of Europe cannot immediately interfere with the issue.” “We cannot interfere with your domestic affairs. It should be solved within the framework of internal institutions. It would be very difficult for the Council of Europe to assume the solution of internal national issues,” he stated. Touching upon the Karabakh issue, Mr. Jagland stated: “The Council of Europe is engaged in the defense of human rights and establishment of democracy. There is a Minsk process and everyone says the issue should be solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

RA President Serzh Sargsyan today met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland and a delegation visiting Armenia for the Forum for the Future of Democracy.

On the occasion, President Sargsyan declared that “essential human and citizens’ rights, the defense of the principles of democracy, are the cornerstones of the Republic of Armenia.” He went on to say that Armenia had come a long way since independence in this regard. President Sargsyan confessed, however, that much remained to be done and that Armenia was determined to see the job done.

After the official close of the Forum, CoE Secretary General Jagland told reporters that, “The Council of Europe cannot directly interfere with Armenia’s domestic issues.” In response to the question about the persons arrested after the events of March 1, 2008, Mr. Jagland stated that The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights has a strong mandate and has been closely following the processes in Armenia ever since 2008. Thorbjorn Jagland noted at the same time that “the Council of Europe cannot immediately interfere with the issue.” “We cannot interfere with your domestic affairs. It should be solved within the framework of internal institutions. It would be very difficult for the Council of Europe to assume the solution of internal national issues,” he stated. Touching upon the Karabakh issue, Mr. Jagland stated: “The Council of Europe is engaged in the defense of human rights and establishment of democracy. There is a Minsk process and everyone says the issue should be solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.”