Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

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Austria hands over chairmanship to Azerbaijan

Austria hands over chairmanship to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan took over from Austria the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for a period of six months beginning on 14 May.

On 6 May in Vienna, at the end of the 124th session of the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chair, Sebastian Kurz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, gave an overview of his country's achievements during its chairmanship. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, then presented the priorities of his country’s chairmanship.

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Back “The Council of Europe appeal to Russia to engage dialogue with Ukraine should be heard", says Austrian Foreign Minister Kurz

Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

In a speech to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly outlining work of the Austrian chairmanship – including the fight against corruption and efforts to increase ratifications of the Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women – Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz focused on the crisis over Crimea.

Highlighting difficult challenges ahead, Mr. Kurz expressed satisfaction with the setting up of the Council of Europe's International Advisory Panel to oversee judicial investigations of violent clashes between protesters and security forces since the end of November 2013.

He underscored cooperation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE in reacting to the crisis and the importance of proposals for constitutional reform in Ukraine, and he reminded delegates that the treatment of Tartars and other minorities in Crimea is a "cause for concern", following a visit last month by Council of Europe experts for national minorities.

"Russia has consistently used the allegation of minorities not being properly treated as a pretext for actions taken," Mr. Kurz said. He stressed that the Council of Europe has made a "clear appeal" to Russia to enter into direct dialogue and hopes "that it would not fall on deaf ears."

In closing, the foreign minister told the assembled delegates that the 65th anniversary of the Council of Europe, to be celebrated next month in Vienna, may make some people "think of retirement" but "recent events show just how important the Council of Europe is."

Speech [de]
Video of the speech

See also:
Austria and the Council of Europe

Strasbourg 07/04/2014
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