Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland in Moscow.
According to APA’s Moscow correspondent, only the protocol part of the meeting was open to the media.
Lavrov said at the meeting that they will discuss complex issues of mutual cooperation between Russia and the Council of Europe. “We have always regarded and continue to regard the Council of Europe as an independent and unique European organization. The Council provides a humanitarian and legal space unity with its unique mechanism of conventions. It seems to me that the importance of the Council of Europe is growing in the present situation when European countries are facing problems. These problems are related with the rights of migrants and minorities in Europe, as well as the rise of neo-Nazi tendencies and religious intolerance,” he said.
Lavrov expressed concern over the situation with Russia in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the discrimination of MPs. “We appreciate your efforts toward solving this problem. I am sure that you have touched upon these issues at the meeting with the leader of both chambers of the Russian parliament,” he noted.
Jagland said he intends to discuss the return of the Russian delegation to the PACE. “I am here to discuss a number of issues, including the return of the Russian delegation to the PACE,” he added.