§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs information he has received concerning plans for Azerbaijan and Armenia to seek membership of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggBoth Armenia and Azerbaijan have applied for special guest in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, though not to join the Council itself. This is a matter for the Parliamentary Assembly itself, but I understand that both applications are going through the usual channels. The Council secretariat has discussed with Armenia and Azerbaijan areas for future co-operation.