Strasbourg, 14.11.2013 - The Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe passed from Armenia to Austria today, at a meeting at the Organisation's Strasbourg headquarters, attended by representatives of its 47 member States.
Before handing over the chairmanship to his successor, the outgoing Chair Edward Nalbandian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, gave an overview of his country's achievements during its chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
The new Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Michael Spindelegger, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, presented the priorities of the Austrian chairmanship which will run for six months as of today.
At a brief ceremony during the meeting, Minister Spindelegger solemnly handed over to the Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, the instrument of Austria's ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention (CETS no. 210). Austria pledged that, during its chairmanship, it would "promote measures for an early entry into force of the Convention", which requires 10 ratifications. (more...)
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03.07.2013 - Conference on “The European legal standards of the rule of law and the scope of discretion of powers in the member States of the Council of Europe” (Yerevan)
03.07.13 - Within the framework of the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee in Ministers of the Council of Europe a Conference on "The European standards of the rule of law and the scope of discretion of powers in the member States of the Council of Europe" opened on 3 July at the National Assembly of Armenia. About 80 representatives from 32 countries and international structures took part in the conference.
Reading out the welcoming address of the President of Armenia, Mr Serzh Sargsyan, Vigen Sargsyan, Chief of Staff of the President, expressed confidence that "the conference, dedicated to the European standards of the rule of law and the scope of discretion of powers will make a lasting contribution to addressing challenges existing in our country and other member States of the Council of Europe and to more efficiently guarantee, ensure and protect human rights". (more...)
