Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

Armenia hands over chairmanship to Austria

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...)

- File on the Austrian Chairmanship
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Back 26.07.2013 - Armenia's first European Days - on the occasion of the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

On the occasion of the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the "Maison de l'Europe" in Provence (Aix-Marseille, France) in partnership with the Naïri-F.A.M. association and with the support of the town of Aix-en-Provence and of the "Association aixoise des Jumelages" are organising a cultural event "Armenia's first European Days" from 28 to 31 July 2013 in Aix-en-Provence.

The programme of the event will include "Armenian culture and art of today" - music, gastronomic specialities, books, craftsmanship, mosaics, photographs, "Exhibition of Armenian art" - paintings, illuminations, traditional costumes and "convivial Armenian evenings" will allow the Armenian culture to be discovered.

The "Maison de l'Europe" in Provence is an initiative for promoting a citizens' Europe which consists of four elements: a members association, a school and university network, an information centre associated with the European Union and an information centre about the Council of Europe.