Armenia, EU hold sixth round of human rights dialogue

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and the European Union and held this week the sixth round of human rights dialogue in Brussels.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Karen Nazarian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and included among other officials, the Deputy Minister of Justice Arman Tatoyan. The EU Delegation was headed by Silvio Gonzato, Director, EEAS, Human Rights and Democracy, European External Action Service and Elisabeth Tison, Head of Division.

The discussions focused on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern as well as on possibilities for cooperation in the field of human rights within international organizations, in particular at the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

The dialogue allowed for an exchange of views on the human rights situation both in Armenia and in the EU. In particular, the talks focused on the national framework for the protection of human rights, the reform of the judiciary, elections and electoral framework, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and association, the functioning of civil society, anti-discrimination policy, fight against torture and freedom of religion and belief.

The first Armenia-EU human rights dialogue was established in December 2009.

The meetings are convened once a year, alternatively in Yerevan and Brussels.