News 2013
Secretary General Jagland condemns terrorist attacks in Volgograd, Russia
Following the terrorist attacks in Volgograd, Russia, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland published the following statement: "I was shocked to hear of the first terrorist attack yesterday in our member state Russia, and the second terrible attack today is very alarming indeed. My thoughts go out...
Deputy Secretary General
Meeting with the Taizé Community at the Council of Europe and the European Parliament
The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, is taking part in the European meeting with the ecumenical Community of Taizé at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In her speech on "New forms of poverty – New forms of solidarity", she underlines that "the...
Thorbjørn Jagland pays tribute to Nelson Mandela
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland pays tribute to Nelson Mandela: "Nelson Mandela was the world's greatest human rights defender of our time. His life showed that human rights can prevail and a single person can change the destiny of a nation".
Ukrainian government and opposition agree on Secretary General Jagland's plan to oversee investigation into Kyiv clashes
The three main opposition parties in Ukraine and Prime Minister Azarov have accepted Secretary General Jagland's plan to establish an expert advisory panel to oversee the investigation into the violent incidents in Kyiv on 30 November and 1 December. "The investigation and its results must be...
Secretary Jagland proposes expert panel to oversee investigation into Kiev clashes
Following his visit to Ukraine, Secretary General Jagland published the following statement: "The aim of our discussions with government and opposition representatives has been to find avenues for dialogue in view of a political solution to the current crisis in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine...
Ukraine: Secretary General meets leaders of parliamentary parties, speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland met today in Kiev with the leaders of the parliamentary parties, the speaker of the Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. The Secretary General's offer of assistance received a positive response from all sides concerned. The aim of...
Many people with disabilities are being deprived of basic human rights
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland calls on member states to move with greater speed from a medical to a human rights-based approach towards disability. "Around 15% of the European population has some form of disability. In...
Secretary General Jagland calls on all parties concerned in Ukraine to return to peaceful dialogue and offers the assistance of the Council of Europe
In a statement today, Secretary General Jagland calls on all parties concerned in Ukraine to return to peaceful dialogue and offers the assistance of the Council of Europe. "The situation in our member state Ukraine is of great concern to the Council of Europe. I call upon all parties in Ukraine...
Secretary General concludes World Forum for Democracy
In his closing remarks to theStrasbourg World Forum for Democracy, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland highlighted the need to promote online literacy and raise awareness of the risks to privacy and data protection. Political parties and institutions had a huge potential to increase...
Secretary General: Ratify the Council of Europe’s convention on violence against women
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Secretary General Jagland encouraged states to ratify the Council of Europe's convention on violence against women. "If you set up an email alert for domestic violence, the results are mostly sad news. But the reality is even...
Turkish Minister of Justice, Sadullah Ergin, visits Council of Europe
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today met Mr Sadullah Ergin, Minister of Justice of Turkey who is paying a visit to the Council of Europe. The Secretary General and the Minister discussed the on-going judicial reforms in Turkey which have led to a reduction of cases pending before the...
Berlin: Secretary General speaks to Conference of European Rabbis
In his keynote speech to the conference of European Rabbis, the Secretary General underlined the Council of Europe's commitment to religious freedom. "In no way does the Council of Europe want to ban the practice of male circumcision", he said. (Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt of Moscow,...
Secretary General meets with President of German Bundestag
In their meeting on 11 November in Berlin, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and the President of the German Bundestag, Dr. Norbert Lammert, discussed the accession of the European Union to the European Convention of Human Rights, and the revision of the Council of Europe's Convention on Data...
Secretary General makes official visit to Montenegro
Secretary General Jagland discussed Montenegro's progress in integrating minorities in particular the Roma people and the LGBT population with the Montenegrin authorities and Prime Minister Djukanovic. Montenegro and the Council of Europe
Secretary General Jagland meets with Serbian President Nikolić
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić discussed Serbia's constructive role in regional reconciliation. Mr. Jagland welcomed Serbia's political reforms and progress towards EU membership. The Secretary General also emphasised the benefits of using the Council...
Secretary General gives support to FIFA's "handshake for peace" initiative
The Secretary General met with a delegation of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA), lead by FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Topics of discussion were the Council of Europe's work in the area of sport, in particular the drafting of a convention to combat match fixing. They...
Secretary General receives Commander of the Legion of Honour award
President of France, François Hollande, personally awarded Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland the title of Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace on Monday 28 October. This honour acknowledges Mr Jagland for his "tireless...
Secretary General Jagland makes official visit to Austria and the OSCE
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Austria from 23-24 October. In his discussions with Foreign Minister Spindelegger and President Fischer the Secretary General underlined the importance of the Austrian chairmanship's priorities, in particular...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Greece
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Greece from 22-23 October. In Athens, Mr Jagland is holding bilateral meetings with Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Antonis Samaras; Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Evangelos Venizelos; Minister of Justice,...
Italian Minister Kyenge visits the Council of Europe
The Italian Minister for Integration Cécile Kyenge is visiting the Council of Europe for talks with the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, the Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, the Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks and the Secretary General of the Parliamentary...
