Archives for 05 - 2009

Belarus: PACE committee calls for the restoration of Special Guest status
	28.05.09 - Strasbourg, This morning the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Paris, came out unanimously in favour of restoring the Special Guest status of the Belarusian Parliament, which has been suspended since 1997, with a view to...(>>>)

The White Ribbon, a Eurimages film, awarded the Golden Palm at Cannes
	27.05.09 - Strasbourg, After a record selection at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival of 12 films supported by the Eurimages Fund of the Council of Europe (see our press release 365a09), the Golden Palm was awarded on Sunday 24 May to the Austrian film director Michael Haneke for The White Ribbon, a coproduction...(>>>)

Commissioner: "Governments should welcome complaints about social rights"
	27.05.09 - Strasbourg, “The protection of social rights is particularly critical during times of economic crisis”, writes Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg in his most recent fortnightly Viewpoint. He welcomes the new ratifications of the revised European Social Charter by Hungary and the Slovak Republic...(>>>)

New Publications
	22.05.09 - Tbilisi, Information Office has published two new publications: a) European Court of Human Rights – Questions and Answers; b) Council of Europe in the International Arena.(>>>)

Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
	22.05.09 - Strasbourg, “Very often, the most far-reaching and the most effective ideas are very simple. To make our world a better, friendlier and safer place through dialogue and greater understanding between peoples and cultures is one of them. Simple is not always easy, but important things in...(>>>)

Signatures and ratifications at the Council of Europe
	21.05.09 - Please note the addition to the previous announcement (press release n° 397) : Georgia signed:- the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (>>>)

Media Pack on 60th Anniversary of the Council of Europe
	20.05.09 - Tbilisi, The Council of Europe Directorate of Communications has published the special Media Pack for journalists on activities scheduled within the programme of celebrations for the Organisation’s 60th Anniversary. Hereby you will find a number of interesting facts from the history...(>>>)

Council of Europe Forum for the Future of Democracy:
	20.05.09 - Call for applications for the next forum which will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine, from 21 to 23 October 2009 (>>>)

Reykjavik forum on anti-terrorist laws and freedom of expression and information
	19.05.09 - Organised by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and the Institute for Information Law of the University of Amsterdam, with the support of the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture(>>>)

Georgia: “Continued international presence and further human rights efforts are needed in the areas affected by the August 2008 conflict” says Commissioner Hammarberg releasing his report
	16.05.09 - Strasbourg, “All parties involved should ensure a faster improvement of the human rights situation following last year’s armed conflict” said the Commissioner releasing today a report based on the findings of his fourth visit to the region since August 2008. “The population must...(>>>)

The Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia - 119th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Madrid, 12 May 2009)
	14.05.09 - Madrid, Decisions adopted at the 119th session of the Committee of Ministers concerning the conflict in Georgia are as follows: “The Committee of Ministers (>>>)

Council of Europe adopts new decisions to improve the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights
	13.05.09 - Madrid, Ministers for Foreign Affairs and representatives of the 47 Council of Europe member states today adopted Protocol No. 14bis to the European Convention on Human Rights, which will increase the European Court of Human Rights’ short-term capacity to process applications. (>>>)

Chairmanship of Committee of Ministers: Slovenia presents its priorities
	13.05.09 - Strasbourg, The new Council of Europe Chairman-in-Office, Slovene Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar, announced in his speech at the Ministerial Session in Madrid commemorating the Organisation’s 60th anniversary that the priorities of the Chairmanship have been defined in accordance with...(>>>)

Ministers for Foreign Affairs from 47 Council of Europe member states to meet in Madrid
	13.05.09 - Strasbourg, Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 47 Council of Europe member states are to meet in Madrid on 12 May. The meeting will be opened at 10 am by the Spanish Minister and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Miguel Angel Moratinos, Council Secretary General Terry Davis and HRH...(>>>)

Twelve Stories
	08.05.09 - There are approximately 10 million Roma living in Europe. They are present in almost all Council of Europe member states and indeed, in some Central and Eastern European countries, they represent over 5 % of the population. Although Roma have made an important contribution to...(>>>)

Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis calls for calm in Georgia
	07.05.09 - Strasbourg, “I am very concerned about the situation in Georgia and the tense climate in the country at the moment. I appeal to everyone to act with restraint and responsibility. Politicians, whether they are in government or opposition, should understand that the escalation of tension...(>>>)

60th Anniversary of the Council of Europe - Joint statement by Secretary General Terry Davis, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig and Committee of Ministers Chairman Miguel Angel Moratinos
	05.05.09 - Strasbourg, In the first sixty years of its existence, the Council of Europe has helped to reconcile a continent after decades of ideological divide, created a Europe-wide court in which individuals can seek protection of their human rights, outlawed the death penalty in Europe, and produced...(>>>)

Op-Ed by SG on 60th Anniversary of CoE - By the Right Hon Terry Davis
	05.05.09 - When you are young, birthdays are about growing up and looking forward. When you have got a few years behind you, they are an opportunity to look back and assess what you have done over the years. The 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of London which set up the Council...(>>>)

Council of Europe CD Enciclopaedia
	05.05.09 - Tbilisi, The Information Office has published an updated version of Council of Europe Enciclopaedia – 2009. This electronic database covers all aspects of the organisation’s activities, its history and programs in different fields.(>>>)

Dialogue ‘the only solution’ to Georgia’s political crisis
	01.05.09 - Strasbourg, Dialogue is the only solution to the political crisis in Georgia, according to the monitoring co-rapporteurs for the country. In an information note made public yesterday, Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE) and Kastriot Islami (Albania, SOC) said there should be(>>>)