Armenia will assume the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers chairmanship on May 16.

Following an April 17 meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan, the CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland hailed Armenia’s chairmanship, also pointing out the issues of special concern.

Mr Jagland stressed corruption, tax evasion, money laundering and trafficking as the main challenges that undermine people’s trust in political system.

Dwelling on the problems of national minorities, the CoE chief slammed xenophobia and hatred propaganda as unacceptable, expressing hope for progress in problematic issues during Armenia’s chairmanship.