Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister holds several meetings in Strasbourg

Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mahmud Mammadguliyev has held several meetings in Strasbourg on the sidelines of the 120th session of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

Mammadguliyev met head of the Ago Monitoring group Stelian Stoyan to discuss the current state of implementation of Azerbaijan's commitments towards the Council of Europe, preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country and settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Stoyan expressed satisfaction with cooperation with Azerbaijan. During his meeting with CoE's Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, Mammadguliyev spoke of what his country had done to integrate into Europe and the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Jagland stressed the importance of peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Secretary General said he supports the continuation of reforms on human rights, democracy and rule of law in Azerbaijan.

He also pointed out the CoE was ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan to conduct the parliamentary elections in a fair and transparent manner. Mammadguliyev also met President of the European Court of Human Rights Jean-Paul Costa during which they said Azerbaijan has close cooperation with both the Court and Venice Commission.

Mammadguliyev also met with head of the Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs Jean-Louis Laurens to discuss the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and CoE's relevant action plan.

During a meeting with head of the Directorate-General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport Gabriella Battani-Dragoni, it was noted Azerbaijan attaches great importance to inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

Gabriella Battani-Dragoni said Azerbaijan is an example in the Council of Europe in the sphere of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.


/AzerTAc/