Within the framework of the visit to the Republic of France, on March 21 in Strasbourg, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan and Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan had a joint meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjorn Berge.

Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, the permanent representative of RA in the Council of Europe, also participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, issues related to the creation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, strategic changes implemented in the Police, Rescue Service, Migration and Citizenship Service, visa liberalization, Armenia's possible membership in the European Union, and strategic agendas implemented in the fields of anti-corruption, judicial, and human rights protection were discussed.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sargsyan appreciated the excellent cooperation with the Council of Europe as a reliable partner supporting the Armenian agenda for developing democratic structures. Sargsyan stated that the Council of Europe has significantly contributed to the large-scale reforms implemented in internal affairs, bringing new milestones in human rights and the rule of law with joint efforts.

CE Deputy Secretary General Bjorn Berge highly appreciated the determination of the Government of Armenia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to implement ambitious sectorial reforms. Berge expressed the full support of the Council of Europe for the implementation of the Government of Armenia's reform agenda.

During the meeting, the parties also referred to the progress and successes of the projects implemented with the Council of Europe, the steps taken jointly within the framework of implementing the ECHR judgments, including the development of the new law "On the Police Guard," which will guarantee new standards in the realization of the right to freedom of assembly and the work to prevent domestic violence, and the proper documentation of possible manifestations of ill-treatment. The emphasis was placed on fixing strategic approaches to crime prevention.

The parties also talked about the development and approval process of GRECO's 5th evaluation report, which also evaluates the police, the positive records in the report prepared as a result of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture's periodic visit to Armenia, and the steps still to be taken.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue the effective partnership and expand the direction of cooperation.