Azerbaijani Foreign Minister leaves for Strasbourg

The Ministry told APA that human rights and cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union will be priority on the agenda. The Russian Federation will take over the presidency of the Committee of Ministers from Romania, for a period of six months.

At the invitation of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, the Ministers will hold an informal meeting with Martti Ahtisaari, the United Nations Special Envoy for the future status of Kosovo. The Ministers will also discuss other major priorities resulting from the Council of Europe's Third Summit in Warsaw, namely: the reinforcement of the Council's action in support of democracy and good governance, the development of intercultural dialogue and the Organisation's process of internal reform.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will present the priorities for his presidency at the end of the session.

Within the session, Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian will hold next round of negotiating process for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the framework of the Prague process.

The Ministers will exchange views on new proposals OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs presented to the conflicting sides in early May. It will be determined after the meeting of the two Ministers whether there will be a need for the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents.

Minister Mammadyarov will also attend GUAM Foreign Ministers meeting in Kiev on May 21