As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Rector Torkunov,

Deputy Minister Grushko,

Deputy Minister Galperin,

High Commissioner Moskalkova,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first congratulate the MGIMO University and its European Studies Institute for holding this joint yearly event in a face-to-face format.

These important in-service training courses for civil servants are the longest running co-operation project between the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe.

And this year they provide an excellent opportunity to mark the 25th anniversary of the Russian Federation’s accession to the Council of Europe.

This was a major step in the completion of a comprehensive Pan-European co-operation structure.

And over the past quarter-century, our European legal space has evolved to the benefit of all European citizens and to our continent as a whole.

As a member state, the Russian Federation participates in setting common legal standards across a broad range of issues, from civil and political rights to economic and social rights, counterterrorism, combatting counterfeiting of medical products or corruption, just to mention a few.

This joint work is essential to achieving greater unity between our member states, in line with the Organisation’s Statute.

And it draws from the principles enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Convention is our Organisation’s cornerstone.

It has been ratified by all 47 of our member states to the benefit of over 830 million Europeans, including 145 million Russian citizens.

And each of these individuals has the ultimate right of direct appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg:

A Court that issues independent judgments, in line with the Convention, and with which every member state has freely committed itself to comply.

Through this mechanism, the Convention nurtures a common European legal culture.

In this connection, let me stress that we should not consider that judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are cases “lost” by a country or decisions “against” a country.

On the contrary, they are “in the benefit of that country” because they give justice to European citizens and strengthen our member states’ legal systems.   

This is crucial and we should never lose sight of it.

In this respect, I would like to refer to the letter which Mr Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, addressed to Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, on 28 February 2021, date of the 25th anniversary of the accession of Russia to the Council of Europe in 1996.

The letter says, among other things, the following: 

“The European Convention on Human Rights has become the supporting pillar of the Russian Federation legislation and law implementation”.

I believe that this statement is the best description of the importance of these 25 years together for Russian citizens and for all of us.

I warmly welcome these training courses.

They offer a unique opportunity to discuss the Council of Europe’s work and its relevance for the Russian Federation.

And they provide a platform for dialogue between our Organisation and decision-makers from 30 federal ministries, agencies and courts.

I thank all speakers for their participation and our Russian partners for their
co-operation.

And I wish you all every success for these 14th Council of Europe / MGIMO courses.

Thank you for your attention.