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Parliamentary Assembly autumn session

Strasbourg, 11.09.2002 - Highlights of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's autumn session (23-27 September 2002) include debates on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's application for Council of Europe membership, the implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights by Turkey, the Kaliningrad issue, as well as the situation in Belarus and the protection of minorities in Belgium. Domestic violence and the sexual exploitation of children are also to be discussed.

A request for a debate under urgent procedure on the danger of bilateral immunity agreements for the International Criminal Court will also be submitted to the Assembly for approval at the start of the session.

For the first time the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday 24 September from 5.30 pm to 8 pm in the hemicycle of the Assembly, on the general theme "the development of Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice". It will be chaired by Peter Schieder and Pat Cox, presidents of the two assemblies.

The guest speakers invited are Bruce George, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Antonio Lazzaro Volpinari and Giovanni Francesco Ugolini, Capitani Reggenti of San Marino, Outi Ojala, President of the Nordic Council, and Donald Johnston, Secretary General of the OECD. Lydie Polfer, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg and Chairperson-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers, will also present a communication from the Committee of Ministers.

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The following provisional order of business may be altered by the Assembly on the first day of the session.

Monday 23 September
- Bruce George, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
- Implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights by Turkey
- Creation of a charter of intent on clandestine migration

Tuesday 24 September
- Antonio Lazzaro Volpinari and Giovanni Francesco Ugolini, Capitani Reggenti of San Marino
- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's application for membership of the Council of Europe
- Communication from the Committee of Ministers presented by Lydie Polfer, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg and Chairperson-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers
- Conflict in the Chechen Republic
- Joint meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament

Wednesday 25 September
- Outi Ojala, President of the Nordic Council
- Ensuring human rights in the Kaliningrad region in the context of European Union enlargement
- Ensuring a prosperous future for the Kaliningrad Region: the need for European solidarity
Situation in Georgia
- OECD and the world economy
- Donald Johnston, Secretary General of the OECD
- Possible urgent debate

Thursday 26 September
- The Council of Europe and the new issues involved in building Europe
- Protection of minorities in Belgium
- Honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia
- Honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan
- Functioning of democratic institutions in Moldova

Friday 27 September
- Situation in Belarus
- Domestic violence
- Sexual exploitation of children: zero tolerance
- Draft additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems

PRESS CONFERENCES
(Room 301, European Press and Information Centre, Allée Spach entrance)
Peter Schieder, President of the Assembly, will give a press conference on Monday 23 September at 11 am.

A press conference with Peter Schieder, President of the Assembly and Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, is scheduled for Tuesday 24 September at 5 pm.

See the Assembly's website, http://assembly.coe.int, for further details. During the Session, it will be updated daily with news of debates and speeches and features a link to a live webcast of the proceedings.

Contact
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Tel. +33 3 88 41 33 35 - Fax. +33 3 90 21 41 34
e-mail: assembly.news@coe.int