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Two high-level Council of Europe officials receive Moldova's state distinctions

20:31 | 13.07.2020 Category: Official

Chisinau, 13 July /MOLDPRES/ - President Igor Dodon, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Moldova’s accession to the Council of Europe, ruled to award state distinctions to former high-level officials of the Council of Euro (CoE), which had brought their contribution to the consolidation and extension of Moldova’s cooperation with this pan-European Organization, as well as to the advancement of the goal of strengthening the democracy, rule of law state and human rights in Moldova, the presidential press service has reported.    

Thus, the head of state awarded the Order of Honour distinction to Thorbjørn Jagland , the former CoE Secretary General, for meritorious contribution to consolidating the democratic institutions of Moldova, to the promotion of the democratic reforms and transformations and to Jean-Louis Laurens, the former Director General for Democracy and Political Affairs at the CoE Secretariat, for outstanding contribution to the implementation of the reforms initiated by the Organization in Moldova, as well as to the carrying out of the ambitious exercise of adjusting the national legislation to the European standards.    

Thorbjørn Jagland held the office of CoE Secretary General during 1 October 2009-18 September 2019 and was the first secretary to exercise two mandates in a row. During his mandate, the cooperation with Moldova was extended through CoE’s action plans for Moldova 2013-2016 and 2017-2020 worth 17 million euros, and respectively, 15 million euros.

In the beginning of Jagland’s mandate, the Office of the Council of Europe in Moldova was opened, based on the Memorandum of understanding between the Moldovan government and the Council of Europe, signed on 21 December 2010. Thorbjørn Jagland had courage, for the first time ever, to call the things by their names, immediately after the cancellation of the results of the elections for the office of Chisinau general mayor in summer of 2018. He said that ‘’Moldova is a seized state,’’ referring to the oligarchic regime established in Moldova by Vladimir Plahotniuc.    

Jean-Louis Laurens worked in CoE during 37 years and personally contributed to the preparation and negotiation of the file on Moldova’s accession to CoE. Also, Laurens personally contributed to the opening of the Council of Europe’s information bureau in Moldova, launch of assistance projects, preparation and carrying out of Moldova’s chairmanship at the CoE’s Committee of Ministers during 15 May – 6 November 2003.

 

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