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On February 23 the Committee Co-Chairs wounded up the works of the two-day meeting of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly at the press conference.

Artak Zakaryan informed the journalists about the two reports discussed in the meeting, which was dedicated to the problems of the development of the civil societies in the Eastern Partnership Countries and the problems poverty reduction. After summing up the proposals received on the first report the Co-rapporteurs will submit the final and specified document to the Bureau with expectation of adopting it in the plenary meeting being held in Baku in April. According to Artak Zakaryan, the report is of advisory nature and is a guideline to ensure the rights of the civil societies and freedoms, increasing abilities in the Eastern Partnership Countries on the way of consolidating and cooperating with the Government. The next report relating to combating poverty of social importance was preliminary, and it still needs passing additional phases of discussion. Artak Zakaryan noticed that the index of participation in the works of the Committee was high, the Azerbaijani delegation was also attending. This Committee, by the Co-Chair’s presentation, is the only one in the EURONEST PA, where it is possible to come to an agreement and make joint decisions.

Laima Liucija Andrikiene, Lithuanian Co-Chair of the Committee, has told the journalists that she is pleased with the outcomes of the works of the visiting meeting organised for the first time. Ms Andrikiene appreciated the two-day discussions fruitful and as a feature she noted the open dispute, which became more interesting with the participation of the representatives of the Armenian Platform and the Youth Parliiament, the EU, international missions and the Human Rights Defender. Issues concerning the human rights, the assistance of education and television, freedom of the people’s move were also discussed. The MEP deemed remarkable that the discussion connected with the rise of the women’s role was the hottest and lively.

The Co-Chairs answered the journalists’ questions. In connection with the possibility of involving the EURONEST PA in the settlement of the conflicts Artak Zakaryan noticed that the issue has been discussed while elaborating the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, and the Armenian side had claimed to avoid touching upon the settlement of the conflicts in the wordings. The European counterparts have agreed that the settlement of the conflicts, and particularly, the NK issue are out of the frameowrks of the EURONEST activities. In the Lithuanian Co-Chair’s opinion, the parliament is the environment, where it is possible to come to mutual agreement and we should do that, but not find solutions. In response to the question on cooperating with the civil societies of the non-recognized states, Ms Andrikiene promised to pass information after discussing it in the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr Zakaryan has said that the Armenian delegation has desire to take part in the work of the plenary meeting being held in Baku.

In the end Ms Andrikiene has noted that she is not only pleased with the results of the Yerevan meeting, but she is also impressed with the beauty of our country.