Twos former high-ranking officials of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland and Jean-Louis Laurens, were awarded the Order of Honor by President Igor Dodon on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Moldova’s accession to the Council of Europe, IPN reports.

“Former CoE Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland was awarded for valuable contribution to strengthening the democratic intuitions in the Republic of Moldova, promoting reforms and democratic transformations, while ex-Director General of Democracy and Political Affairs of the CoE Secretariat Jean-Louis Laurens for remarkable contribution to implementing the reforms initiated by the CoE in Moldova and to putting into practice the ambitious exercise of adjusting the national legislation to the European standards,” Igor Dodon posted on Facebook.

Thorbjørn Jagland held the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe during October 1, 2009 – September 18, 2019, being the first to hold two terms in office consecutively. Igor Dodon said that during his tenure, the cooperation with the Republic of Moldova was extended through the CoE action plans for the Republic of Moldova for 2013-2016 and 2017-2020, to the value of about €17 million, and, respectively, €15 million. At the start of his first term in office, the Council of Europe Office was opened based on a memorandum of understanding between Moldova’s Government and the Council of Europe signed on December 21, 2010.

Jean-Louis Laurens had served for the CoE for 37 years, from 1976 until 2013, and contributed personally to the preparing and negotiation of Moldova’s file of accession to the CoE. He also contributed to the negotiation and opening of the Information Office of the Council of Europe in the Republic of Moldova, the launch of assistance projects, the preparing and holding by Moldova of the presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe during May 15 – November 6, 2003.