Information Documents
SG/Com(2003)844(restricted) 19 June 2003
————————————————
Communication by the Secretary General
and the Deputy Secretary General
to the 844th meeting of the
Ministers’ Deputies
————————————————
List of items
Communication by the Secretary General
1. Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of members States of the Central European Initiative (CEI) at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, Wroclaw, Poland, 12-13 June 2003
2. “Conference of leaders of Islamic Centres and Ulemas in Europe” focusing on the development of Islam in the European context, at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, Graz, Austria, 13 June 2003
3. Voluntary contributions
4. Future visits
Communication by the Deputy Secretary General
1. 7th Conference of European Health Ministers on “Health, Dignity and Human Rights”, Oslo, Norway, 12-13 June 2003
2. Future visits
Communication by the Secretary General
1. Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of members States of the Central European Initiative (CEI) at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, Wroclaw, Poland, 12-13 June 2003
I participated in the CEI ministerial meeting in Wroclaw, Poland. The text of my speech is attached as Appendix I. In the context of the meeting, I had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of Poland, Mr Cimoszewicz and the Romanian Secretary of State, Mr Petre Ciamba. I also had to opportunity to meet the co-ordinator of the Stability Pact, Mr Busek and several other participants.
Our discussions focused on the role of the Council of Europe in enlarged Europe and the third summit of the Council of Europe.
I should like to thank the Polish authorities for their warm hospitality and the excellent organisation of the conference.
2. “Conference of leaders of Islamic Centres and Ulemas in Europe” focusing on the development of Islam in the European context, at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, Graz, Austria, 13 June 2003
I addressed the Graz Conference of leaders of Islamic centres and Ulemas in Europe on “the role of Islam and Muslims in Europe”, at the invitation of the Austrian Foreign Minister, Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, on 13 June 2003.
This event was organised at the initiative of the Grand Mufty of Bosnia Herzegovina, Mr Mustafa Ceric, with the support of the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the Islamic Religious Community in Austria. More than a hundred presidents of cultural centres and Islamic associations, theologians and imams of mosques from all over Europe participated in the Conference.
The main objective was to reflect on the place Muslims should occupy in European society. It was also to exchange views on the role of Islamic communities and institutions in highlighting the vision of Islam.
The majority of participants promoted a modern vision of Islam more compatible with the European environment and appealed for the reinforcement of the European identity of Muslims living in Europe. The importance of interfaith dialogue was also particularly underlined, especially in Europe, which is, by definition, multinational, multiethnic and multireligious.
During the Conference, I met the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Dr Abdelouahed Belkeziz. We discussed possible ways of developing co-operation between our two organisations.
My speech at the opening ceremony appears as Appendix II.
I should like to thank the organisers and the Austrian authorities for their warm welcome and the excellent organisation of the Conference.
3. Voluntary contributions
I should like to thank the following authorities for their voluntary contributions towards the Council of Europe In-Service Training Programme for Educational Staff:
Cyprus: € 2 300
Germany: € 50 000
Finland: € 18 000
The Netherlands: € 6 998.20
Sweden: € 19 125
Switzerland: € 20 602.58
I should also like to thank the Swiss authorities for their voluntary contribution of SFR 44 250 towards the library of the European Court of Human Rights.
4. Future visits
Dornbirn, Austria: Opening of the Museum of Natural History, 20 June 2003
Wachau, Austria: Europaforum “Die Zukunft der Europäischen Union : Neue Chancen durch innere Reform und Erweiterung”, 28 June 2003
Crans Montana, Switzerland: Crans Montana Forum – meeting of Central European Heads of State and Government on the subject “Towards an active and modern Democracy”, 29 June 2003
The Hague, Netherlands: official contacts (chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers), 2 July 2003
San Marino: official visit, 3-4 July 2003
Communication from the Deputy Secretary General
1. 7th Conference of European Health Ministers on “Health, Dignity and Human Rights”, Oslo, Norway, 12-13 June 2003
On 12 June I opened and attended the Seventh Conference of European Health Ministers, which was held in Oslo on 12 and 13 June 2003.
The Conference aimed at intensifying the social, ethical and human rights dimensions of health care. One of the main challenges would be to ensure that vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and socially marginalised, receive the health care to which they are entitled. In my speech, attached as Appendix III, I emphasised the human rights’ dimension of health policies and recalled that “the Council of Europe offers the ideal platform for the creation of a greater Europe of health and social cohesion, capable of meeting the needs of the entire continent”.
I had an exchange of views with the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Thorhild Widvey, as well as with the Minster of Health, Mr Dagfinn Hoybråten and the Minister of Justice, Mr Odd Einar Dorum.
My Norwegian interlocutors were very interested in giving high priority to a Council of Europe Convention to combat trafficking in human beings. It was felt that the fight against trafficking in organs could also be usefully tackled by the Council of Europe by means of a legal instrument.
We discussed in depth the upcoming Committee of Ministers Chairmanship of Norway and the possible topics/themes to be chosen.
Finally, I would like to thank the Norwegian authorities for the excellent organisation of the Conference and for the warm hospitality shown to us all.
2. Future visits
Budapest: Regional Conference on “Roma in an expanding Europe: challenges for the future” organised by the World Bank, 30 June – 1 July 2003
Appendix I
Statement by the Secretary General,
Mr Walter Schwimmer,
to the
Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
of the Central European Initiative
(Wroclaw, 12-13 June 2003)
In a referendum held last Sunday, the Polish people very strongly signalled their wish for fuller European integration. I would like to congratulate Poland and the other CEI member States, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, on their forthcoming accession to the European Union..
The European Union thus will have soon 25 members. Others are hoping to join too. However, many European States will not join for the moment. This will be reflected in the membership of our two institutions: an increasing number of our members will also be EU members but almost as many will remain outside the EU. This fact should not create new dividing lines! There is only One Europe: the continent with its over 800 million Europeans. Since 1989, the Council of Europe, which was founded forty years earlier to overcome conflicts, has made it possible for the One Europe, based on common values, to come about.
I would like to thank the many members of the Convention that in this, and other respects, continue to draw attention to the Council of Europe’s role.
As I stated in my contribution to the Convention on the future of Europe, I consider that the European Union should make full use of the CoE’s instruments and institutions. I, therefore, was very pleased to note that now when the Convention on the future of Europe approaches its final stage, the draft constitution proposes a clear legal basis which would permit the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. Such an accession is indeed essential for the future of our continent.
This brings me to the future role of the Council of Europe in building a Europe without dividing lines. Much reflection is currently going on on how to structure the European Union’s foreign policy with regard to those European States that are either unable, or unwilling, to join the European Union at present. To all those involved, I have a very clear message: Do use what is there and what has proved its value.
There is no need to invent new structures for political co-operation, or set up elaborate new mechanisms for consultation. The Council of Europe brings together, as equal partners, all the States of the One Europe. We should be imaginative in structuring our relationship, and dare to break new ground. We should reflect on the possibilities of how to make the European Union an “associate member” of the Council of Europe by taking into account the sui generis status of the EU as a supra-national entity with competences and sovereign rights which are normally carried out by a State, but without (yet) being a State and certainly not having all the rights and competences of a sovereign State. So, as an “associate member” the EU would represent the 25 together in those areas where they have transferred the competences to the supra-national level.
Following proposals by the Parliamentary Assembly and myself, I was pleased that at their May session, you and your fellow Ministers agreed that the future role of the CoE in a new architecture for Europe and a concerted action between European institutions could be further elaborated at the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, to be held most likely between autumn 2004 and spring 2005. I am grateful to those CEI governments that have already offered to host the Summit.
May I also briefly focus on a number of issues that are of major concern to our two institutions at this very moment: on the 3rd of April this year, the CoE welcomed Serbia and Montenegro as its 45th member. This enlargement is of historical importance as it completes the accession of all south east European countries to our Organisation. The authorities need our full support in their political determination to fight the pernicious legacy left by the previous regime. Therefore, we have set up an enhanced co-operation programme with Serbia and Montenegro - complemented by a CoE-European Commission joint programme –to contribute to completing the considerable reforms under way.
For the Western Balkans, the Council of Europe welcomes the strong commitments of CEI to support these countries towards European integration. The Thessaloniki Summit of 21 June, gathering EU Members states, candidate countries and countries of the Western Balkans, will therefore create new opportunities for regional cooperation in which the Council of Europe will participate through its various programmes.
At the request of UNMiK, the Council of Europe is leading the decentralisation process in Kosovo to promote further democratisation and reconciliation. In our contacts with UNMIK, we also attach great value to the applicability of Council of Europe human rights standards in Kosovo. There should be no human rights gap in Europe.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina significant progress has been made in the fulfilment of the commitments entered into upon the country’s accession and joint efforts continue to ensure that the still fragile state construction continues on track. We lend our full support to the country’s continued efforts towards institution building, in particular in the areas of the Judiciary and of local self-government, and we encourage a vigorous fighting against organised crime and corruption. Success in these areas are important conditions for sustainable returns of displaced persons and refugees.
The Council of Europe’s contribution to the full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement is another focal point of our action in the region. In close co-operation with the EU-Special Representative in Skopje, the Council of Europe continues to provide expertise to the authorities of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, in particular with regard to decentralisation. Indeed, the finalisation of the laws on local finance and the redrawing of municipal boundaries are key elements in this process. May I also express my concern at the situation of a substantial group of Roma refugees at the Greek border. I would appeal to the authorities of the country to respect fully the applicable human rights and humanitarian standards to this vulnerable group.
The Council of Europe has a long-standing co-operation programme with Albania accompanying the path of reforms. This work continues to be focused on the key area of the judiciary, including support for the School of Magistrates, which is one of the numerous joint programmes for the region undertaken with the European Commission. Contribution to the ongoing electoral reform, as an essential part of internal political stability, remains another essential element of our co-operation with Albania. The new dynamics expected from the Thessaloniki meeting will warrant additional support on our side.
As far as Belarus’ possible accession to the CoE is concerned, I cannot but underline that the procedure will remain frozen until the four following steps are taken: a genuine parliament, freedom of the media, a moratorium on the death penalty and improved human rights protection (law on ombudsman, clarification on disappearances). Unfortunately, recent news from Belarus has been mostly negative as major opposition newspapers have been suspended under a non-democratic procedure.
I would like to seize this opportunity to confirm that the CoE remains committed to responding positively to steps in the right direction that, once more, I strongly invite the authorities of Belarus to take. We are ready to help. In the meantime, our Parliamentary Assembly pursues a dialogue with parliamentary delegations and members of the opposition. We continue cooperation with non-governmental organisations and independent media.
The CoE continues providing active support for democratic reform in Ukraine. While we welcome the first results of the CoE action plan on the media reform, we also hope that full media freedom can be achieved more rapidly and with greater determination. The CoE’s “Venice Commission” is currently examining the proposals by President Kuchma for a constitutional reform.
Moldova assumes the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers since 15 May. This is an important development that deserve our attention. It symbolises the country’s integration into the European co-operation structures. At the same time we continue our close co-operation in completing Moldova’s democratic reforms and fulfilling all its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe. On my own initiative, the political forces in Moldova have set up a Round-Table to promote political dialogue and to improve the functioning of parliamentary procedure.
In the framework of the Moldovan Chairmanship, the Council of Europe will lend its support to a Conference to be held in Octoberon “Frozen conflicts in Europe – the democratic security approach – the case of Transnistria”, that is meant to complement OSCE led international efforts to find a solution.
Trafficking in human beings constitutes an intolerable affront to human dignity and has rightly become an issue of great concern to citizens all over Europe. I am happy to inform you that the CoE will be preparing a European Convention against trafficking in human beings. This Convention should be geared towards the protection of victims’ rights and the respect for human rights, and aim at a proper balance between matters concerning human rights and prosecution. I count on your support so that the CoE can rapidly succeed in this task Failure to do so would result in continued immense suffering of thousands of often very young people.
Furthermore, I should like to address an issue that is of great concern to CEI countries, that is to say promoting human contacts and the free movement of Europeans on our continent. The Committee of Ministers of the CoE, at their last meeting, instructed their Deputies to identify possible new measures to be taken by the CoE in this area, taking into account the Schengen Agreement.
Another important new development is that the Committee of Ministers has decided to create a political platform for regular dialogue on migration issues with sending and transit countries to meet twice a year. Its main role will be to effectively implement a Council of Europe strategy for the orderly management of migration. The geographic dimension of the platform – 45 member States and several selected countries of origin, as well as the European Union and other international bodies – reflect the importance of involving all countries concerned to address this vital human issue. It also takes account of EU enlargement and the specific problems facing our Mediterranean partners.
Mr Chairman, may I once again stress the importance the CoE attaches to co-operating with the CEI. Convinced of the political importance of sub-regional co-operation as a factor for stability through the implementation of the CoE’s founding principles (pluralist democracy, human rights, rule of law) at grass-root level, as well as a contribution to the building of a common Europe without dividing lines, the Committee of Ministers adopted in May 2002 the “Vilnius Declaration on Regional Co-operation and the Consolidation of Democratic Stability in Greater Europe”.
In implementation of this Declaration, we, together with the Lithuanian authorities, organised this week in Vilnius a meeting of Sub-regional and continent-wide organisations on “Fighting corruption and organised crime”.
We greatly appreciate the contribution made by the CEI to this meeting. Our co-operation has also lead to the initiative for organising the “International Conference on cross-border and interregional co-operation”, to be held in Cracow next October.
With the enlargement of the EU, both the CEI and the CoE are facing a new situation where roughly half of their members will also be EU members, the other half remaining outside the EU. At regional and sub-regional level respectively, both Organisations can effectively contribute to create a Europe without dividing lines. Do make use of the Council of Europe to press your points and get some of your ideas through.
Appendix II
Graz Conference of leaders of Islamic centres and Ulemas in Europe
Opening address by Mr Walter Schwimmer,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Graz, 13 June 2003
After the outstanding performance of the "Bosniak Choir of Graz" I would like to congratulate the organizers for an excellent choice of the musical programme. When we can equally enjoy the "Styrian Quartet" and the "Bosniak Choir" and both groups are from the same city, then that shows that we have started to recognize the richness of our cultural diversity!
The Austrian Foreign Minister referred in her inspiring introduction to the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union. The Council of Europe - which I represent here - has already accomplished its own enlargement, its still incredible enlargement. 15 years ago, there were only 22 member states in the organisation. Ten years ago, as Heads of State and government gathered in Vienna for the first ever Summit of the Council of Europe and took several key decisions. It were already 32 Member States
One of them was to progressively include in the European enterprise all those countries that would opt for democracy, human rights, the rule of law and respect for cultural diversity. As a result, we now have a "one Europe" of 45 member States and 800 million Europeans. One in eight of those Europeans is a Muslim, that means there are not less than 100 million Muslim Europeans.
Other decisions included the creation of a European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the strengthening of the European Court of Human rights and the creation of the first European and even international legal instrument for the protection of minorities.
At the highest political level, the message was thus quite clear: we want a wider Europe of peace and stability, based on respect for the equal dignity of all, offering to everyone effective protection of his/her fundamental rights and freedoms and meaningful opportunities for participation in political, civil and cultural life.
We should never forget this very ambitious programme, based on hard-learned lessons from our history, whatever the many shortcomings and failures in the implementation. This programme is also in essence that of the enlarging European Union. I am sure it can be supported by all religions.
Muslim citizen have important stakes in that programme.
In the many European countries where they constitute a religious minority, they are not supposed to hide their beliefs or fail to defend their individual rights and collective interests by lawful means. And they are entitled to expect the full protection of the law against racist speech and violence.
In recent years, ECRI has been concerned by indications that religious intolerance and prejudice against minority Muslim communities is increasing in European countries and that Islam is sometimes portrayed inaccurately on the basis of hostile stereotyping , which can reinforce discrimination.
In a specific policy recommendation adopted some three years ago, ECRI proposed a number of measures to address discrimination against those communities in areas such as access to citizenship, education and employment. It further called for the removal of unnecessary obstacles to the practice of religion, including any administrative bars to the construction of places of worship.
Of course, it will take much more than such measures to ensure harmony and a rewarding participation both in the wider civil society and in the political society.
Harmony, I suggest, will eventually result from a very active inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and from the remarkable efforts of many Muslim communities, notably their Imams or Ulemas, in providing interpretations of the faith that take into account the particular circumstances of contemporary Europe.
Such dialogue and work on the knowledge would reflect the most positive experiences of Muslim contribution to the European culture in the times of tolerance of El-Andalus or under Ottoman rule. The mayor of Graz quoted in his speech Aristoteles. So would call to our mind with gratitude that it were the Islamic scholars of El-Andalus who brought the knowledge about the Greek philosophers back to Europe and saved it for Europe.
There is little doubt that the huge extension of the UMMA or community of Muslims beyond lands of traditional Muslim rule, with the resulting difficulty of being a Muslim in a non-Muslim state, is a major challenge to leaders and thinkers to develop a theory of a minority Islam, some would rather say: an Islam separated from any political project or institution or they would even speak about a European Islam. In South East Europe, the challenge is somewhat different but it further includes overcoming the scars of an history that often mixed religious and political agendas.
Time does not allow to elaborate much on this. Let me mention some of the key questions.
The relation between religious communities and the democratic State must be properly organised, along the lines of "separation" of political and religious powers.
Europe is a community of rights and duties, a concept also well known in Islam. As any other believers, Muslims in Europe are expected to respect democratic laws , in particular on human rights, and States must in turn recognise them and treat Islam on an equal footing with all relevant religions, including in such areas as education and access to media.
Dialogue and partnership are also particularly needed in the Balkans to support the healing process and to lay the ground for more cohesive societies that, in turn, will make it possible for refugees and displaced persons to come home. We call it Linking Diversity. Muslim communities can and often do play a courageous role in that respect. I would like to thank the Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Ceric for his support and personal involvement.
Education plays a key role in inculcating basic knowledge and promoting empathy about religious diversity as well as democratic practices. The Council of Europe is therefore actively engaged in the development of standard curricula that should help teachers all over our continent to do precisely that. Becoming aware of the existence of other faiths and of their main features must become an indispensable part of any education in order to limit prejudice and hostility.
This is all the more needed in that an unprecedented wave of suicide-attacks in different parts of the world contributes to confusing minds and to spreading simplistic views about Jihad and the alleged radical antagonism between Islam and the West, including all of Europe.
Very often nowadays Samuel P. Huntingtons's book "The Clash of Civilisations" is quoted, but as I realised, very often by people who did not read it. Time and again, I have repeated my own conviction that the current situation does not reflect a clash of civilisations but a clash of ignorances. I strongly believe that Muslims communities in Europe can help bridging the understanding gap between Islam and the West.
In that spirit, I welcome the presence of the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to this European meeting and I would like to thank the Organisers, in particular Minister Ferrero-Waldner for their initiative.
Religion and democracy have in common the concept of recognition and respect for others. In Europe today, it should mean all the others, without any further categories, distinctions or discriminations.
Let us together build the One Europe on this.
Appendix III