Armenia prioritizes opposing xenophobia and racism as chair of CE Committee of Ministers
31.05.2013,
14:58
Europe is today challenged by the problem of intolerance, and the priority of Armenia, as a chair of the CE Committee of Ministers, will be to oppose the challenges, such as intolerance, xenophobia and racism, said Hovik Abrahamyan, Speaker of Armenian legislative National Assembly.
YEREVAN, May 31./ARKA/. Europe is today challenged by the problem of intolerance, and the priority of Armenia, as a chair of the CE Committee of Ministers, will be to oppose the challenges, such as intolerance, xenophobia and racism, said Hovik Abrahamyan, Speaker of Armenian legislative National Assembly, Novosti-Armenia reports.
The chairmanship at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was delivered to Armenia on 16 May 2013, and will be effective till November 13,2013.
“Intolerance begets racism, xenophobia, discrimination, violence, which eventually end up in conflicts,” Abrahamyan said Friday at the meeting of PACE permanent commissions in Yerevan.
The role of the Council of Europe, according to the speaker, should be more constructive and targeted, and it should use its all “rich arsenal of legal tools.”
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, on his side, said the priorities of Armenia, as a chair of the Committee, were outlined based upon the existing urgent issues of the member states.
“We will do our best to strengthen the potential of the Council of Europe to resolve these all issues,” he highlighted.
PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon added PACE supports Armenia’s priorities as they completely meet the CE principles.
Armenia became a member of the CE on 25 January 2001 committing to fulfill all its principles. -0-
