President Vahagn Khachaturyan met with Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan received Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

President Khachaturyan welcomed the guest, stating:

“I am pleased to welcome You to Armenia. Thank you for participating in the “Yerevan Dialogue.” I consider Your visit an important component of our recent active cooperation with the European Union and the Council of Europe. The Congress You lead is one of the two key bodies of the Council of Europe, and I would particularly like to emphasize the role of local authorities and local self-government bodies in the development of democratic states.

It is an undeniable fact that in democratic countries, the stability and strength of the state system largely depend on the maturity of local self-government bodies. I am confident that the efforts being made today to develop the capacities of local authorities have already yielded, and will continue to yield, visible positive results.”

In response, Marc Cools expressed his gratitude for the reception and the organized event, emphasizing:

“Thank you for this opportunity to meet, as well as for the hospitality I have had the honor to enjoy in Armenia. Thanks also to all the organizers of the “Yerevan Dialogue” conference.

I have been in politics for 40 years and have participated in numerous forums and conferences, but I must say that this one was truly exceptional. It is rare to see such a high level of speakers and such wide participation.

This demonstrates how important a role Armenia can play as a democratic and stable country in this region. In general, the Council of Europe, including both the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress, has always highly valued the developments and reforms being carried out in Armenia.”

During the meeting, the programs implemented in cooperation between the Congress and Armenian state institutions, as well as future initiatives, were discussed. Both sides emphasized the importance of the democratic reforms being carried out in Armenia with the support of the Council of Europe, highlighting the need for their continuation and deepening.

The importance of ongoing reforms in the justice sector and efforts toward the establishment of democratic and state institutions was underscored. President Khachaturyan noted that these processes are of fundamental significance in creating a fair, responsible, and effective governance system.

Local self-government and the development of community infrastructure were also addressed. In this context, it was mentioned that the support of the Council of Europe’s Congress could serve as a significant impetus for developing community capacities, improving service quality, and increasing citizen engagement.

Both sides reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen cooperation in the interest of advancing democracy, local self-government, and balanced development in Armenia.