The Assembly held very good and politically important meetings in Moldova. The authorities of Moldova, in particular the Parliament, made excellent organisational arrangements and their hospitality was outstanding.

It also held an exchange of views on the role of Parliament in a democratic State, with the participation of:

In this framework, an information report on the implementation of Resolution 1303 (2002): the Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Moldova (Co-rapporteurs: Mrs Durrieu (France, SOC) and Mr Vahtre (Estonia, EPP/CD) was presented by Mrs Durrieu.

The Standing Committee welcomed the priorities of the Moldovan Chairmanship. At the same time, it was underlined that the Chairmanship also requires from the Moldovan authorities an acceleration of democratic reforms and consolidation of state institutions. Progress has incontestably been achieved, but it was felt that further efforts need to be done, in particular as regards the political dialogue between the governing party and the opposition, the implementation of the law on Teleradio-Moldova, the reform of the judiciary and the content of some important laws, such as those relating to the judicial system, local public finance and the public service.

In this respect, it was very encouraging to hear the assurances of President Voronin that Moldova will make substantial progress as regards the fulfilment of its obligations and commitments during the six months of its Chairmanship.

The Standing Committee also took note with great interest of President Voronin's proposal for the settlement of the question of Transniestria based on the model of an “asymmetrical type of federation”.

At its meeting in Chisinau on 27 May 2003, the Bureau adopted the agenda and drew up the draft order of the business, which is appended.

The Bureau decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold an urgent debate on “the Convention on the future of Europe and the Council of Europe” on the basis of a report to be prepared by the Political Affairs Committee. It was also decided to invite Mr Vitorino, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, to take part in this debate.

Mr Rudolf Schuster, President of the Slovak Republic, will address the Assembly on Tuesday 24 June 2003. Other personalities will speak in the framework of respective debates, including:

- Mr Franz Fischler, Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries

Mr Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, is, unfortunately, not in a position to address the Assembly during the June part-session as originally planned. Mr Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, cannot come either.

At the invitation of the German Bundestag, the Bureau of the Assembly, the Political Affairs Committee, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee met in Berlin on 28-30 April 2003. The working conditions were excellent and the hospitality of the Bundestag outstanding. On this occasion, the Committees held in particular exchanges of views with representatives of the German authorities in their respective fields of action.

In the framework of the accession procedure, Mr Slutski, rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee, and Mr Manzella, rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, visited Monaco on 2-3 June 2003.

The President of the Assembly has invited a delegation of the National Council of Monaco, headed by Mr Stephan Valéri, President of the Council, to Strasbourg during the 3^rd part of the session. The visit will take place on 24-25 June 2003 and the delegation will meet, among others, the President of the Assembly, the two rapporteurs, and the political groups leaders.

At the meeting in Berlin on 28 April 2003, the Bureau of the Assembly asked the Secretariat to prepare concrete proposals for a new composition and mandate of this Group. The Bureau will discuss these proposals during the June part-session.

The Ad Hoc Committee, which observed the parliamentary elections in Armenia on 25 May 2003, will present its report to the Bureau on Monday 23 June 2003. This report will be appended to the Bureau's Progress report and will be discussed on Monday 23 June 2003 in the framework of the debate on the Progress report. The press releases issued by the Ad Hoc Committee after the elections are appended.

At its meeting on 27 May 2003, the Bureau of the Assembly decided to set up an Ad Hoc Committee of 30 members to observe the parliamentary elections in Georgia, which will take place on 2^nd November 2003. At the same time, it was decided to send a pre-electoral mission to Georgia, composed of 5 members, in principle one month before the elections.

At the same meeting, the Bureau decided to observe the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, which will take place in October 2003, on condition that an official invitation will be received. It was also decided to send a pre-electoral mission before the elections.

Following a proposal of the President of the European Court of Human Rights to hold a meeting between members of the Court and representatives of the Assembly, the Bureau decided to set up a delegation to this respect and proposed that this meeting takes place on Monday 23 June 2003 at 1 pm (noon). Such a meeting will be very useful in the framework of the current discussions on the reform of the Court. In this respect, I should also like to recall that the President of the Assembly has formally asked the Deputies that the Assembly should be given the opportunity to formulate an opinion on the proposals submitted to them.

Mr Krüger, former Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who was appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly as expert consultant to report on the legal and judicial aspects of this case, visited Kyiv on 29-31 May 2003. He will submit a written report to the Bureau of the Assembly during the June part-session.

Mr Konoplev, Vice-Chairman of the House of Representatives, proposed to hold a seminar in the Belarus Parliament with the participation of a delegation of the Assembly, which could take place in September 2003. The Bureau asked me to clarify with the Belarus side the exact dates and subjects of this Seminar and to make a proposal to the Bureau at its next meeting regarding the composition of a Ad Hoc Committee to participate in it.

Monday 23 June 2003
8.30 a.m.Bureau of the Assembly
10 a.m.Political groups
2 p.m.Committees
3 p.m.	1.Opening of the third part of the 2003 Ordinary Session
	a.[Possibly] Examination of new credentials (Doc. )
	b.Changes in the membership of Committees
	c.Request(s) for debate under urgent procedure on:
	– the Convention of the Future of Europe and the Council of Europe
	d.Adoption of the order of business
	2.Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee (Doc. )
	Rapporteur: Mr Tadeusz Iwiński (Poland, SOC)
	Observation of the parliamentary elections in Armenia (25 May 2003) (Doc. )
	Rapporteur: Mr Bernard Schreiner (France, EDG)
	Debate
	3.Agriculture and enlargement of the European Union (Doc. 9812)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs: Mr Marcin Libicki (Poland, EDG)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 12 noon.
	4.Challenges for Mediterranean agriculture (Doc. 9807)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs: Mr Adolfo Fernández Aguilar (Spain, EPP/CD)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 12 noon.
	Statement by Mr Franz FISCHLER, Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries *
	Joint debate on items 3 and 4
	Vote on two draft resolutions
	5.Areas where the European Convention on Human Rights cannot be implemented (Doc. 9730)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Mr Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 12 noon.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft recommendation
7 p.m.End of the sitting
* To be confirmed.
Tuesday 24 June 2003
8.30 a.m.Committees
10 a.m.	1.Contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to economic development in central and eastern Europe (Doc. )
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development: Mr Marton Braun (Hungary, EPP/CD)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 4 p.m.
	Statement by Mr Jean LEMIERRE, President of the EBRD *
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
12 noon	2.Address by Mr Rudolf SCHUSTER, President of the Slovak Republic
	Questions
1 p.m.End of the sitting
2 p.m.Committees
3 p.m.	1.Activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1998-2002 (Doc. 9814)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography: Mr John Wilkinson (United Kingdom, EDG)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 4 p.m.
	Statement by Mr Brunson McKINLEY, Director General of the IOM *
	Debate
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	2.Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the Northern Part of Cyprus (Doc. 9714)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Mr Dick Marty (Switzerland, LDR)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 4 p.m.
	3.Colonisation by Turkish settlers of the occupied part of Cyprus (Doc. 9799)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography: Mr Jaakko Laakso(Finland, UEL)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 4 p.m.
	Joint debate on items 2 and 3
	Vote on a draft resolution
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	4.Positive experiences concerning autonomous regions in Europe (Doc. )
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs: Mr Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (for opinion) (Doc. ): Mr Erik Jurgens (Netherlands, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Monday 23 June at 4 p.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
	Vote on a draft recommendation
7.30 p.m.End of the sitting
* To be confirmed.
Wednesday 25 June 2003
8.30 a.m.Political groups
10 a.m.	1.Preferential treatment of national minorities by the kin-state: the case of the Hungarian law of 19 June 2001 on Hungarians living in neighbouring countries ("Magyars") (Doc. 9744 rev.)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Mr Erik Jurgens (Netherlands, SOC)
	Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee (for opinion) (Doc. 9813): Mr Latchezar Toshev (Bulgaria, EPP/CD)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Tuesday 24 June at 10 a.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
12 noon	2.Address by Mr Václav KLAUS, President of the Czech Republic
	Questions
1 p.m.End of the sitting
2 p.m.Committees
3 p.m.	1.Migration connected with trafficking in women and prostitution (Doc. 9795)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men: Mrs Ans Zwerver (Netherlands, SOC)
	Rapporteur of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee (for opinion) (Doc. ): Mr Rino Piscitello (Italy, LDR)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography (for opinion) (Doc. 9809): Mrs Tana de Zulueta (Italy, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Tuesday 24 June at 3 p.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	2. Trafficking in organs in Europe (Doc. )
	Rapporteur of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee: Mrs Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold (Switzerland, SOC)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (for opinion) (Doc. ): Mr Dirk Dees (Netherlands, LDR)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Tuesday 24 June at 3 p.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	3. The situation of Palestinian refugees (Doc. 9808)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography: Mr Olav Akselsen(Norway, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Tuesday 24 June at 3 p.m.
	Statement by Mr Peter HANSEN, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) *
	Debate
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	Vote on a draft resolution
7 p.m.End of the sitting
* To be confirmed.
Thursday 26 June 2003
8.30 a.m.Committees
10 a.m.	1.Debate under urgent procedure: The Convention of the Future of Europe and the Council of Europe (Doc. )**
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs: …
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (for oral opinion): …
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Wednesday 25 June at 12 noon.
	Statement by Mr António VITORINO, European Commissioner responsible for Justice and Home Affairs *
	Debate
	Vote on …
1 p.m.End of the sitting
2 p.m.Committees
3 p.m.	1.Communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly presented by Mr Nicolae DUDĂU, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova and Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers
	Questions (Doc. )
	(Questions must be tabled by Tuesday 24 June 2003 at 3 p.m. at the latest)
	2.Political prisoners in Azerbaijan (Doc. )
	Rapporteur of Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Mr George Clerfayt (Belgium, LDR)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) (for oral opinion): …
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Wednesday 25 June at 3 p.m.
	Debate
	Vote on …
	3.Rights of persons held in the custody of the United States in Afghanistan or Guantanamo Bay (Doc. 9817)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Mr Kevin McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Wednesday 25 June at 3 p.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
7 p.m. End of the sitting
7 p.m. Joint Committee
** If the urgent procedure is decided by the Assembly.
*To be confirmed.
Friday 27 June 2003
8 a.m.Committees
9 a.m.	1.Environment and human rights (Doc. 9791)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs: Mrs Cristina Agudo (Spain, SOC)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (for opinion) (Doc. ):Mr Erik Jurgens (Netherlands, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Thursday 26 June at 9 a.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft recommendation
	2.Human stem cell research (Doc. 9816)
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education: Mr Michael Asciak (Malta, EPP/CD)
	Rapporteur of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee (for opinion): Mr Bent Høie (Norway, EPP/CD)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Thursday 26 June at 9 a.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
	3. European air transport policies: crucial choices at a critical time (Doc. )
	Rapporteur of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development: Mr Jean-Pierre Masseret (France, SOC)
	Deadline for tabling amendments: Thursday 26 June at 9 a.m.
	Debate
	Vote on a draft resolution
12 noonClosure of the third part of the 2003 Session
12 noon Bureau of the Assembly
(at the end of the part-session)

Armenian elections show improvement over presidential voting, but fail to meet international standards in key areas

YEREVAN, 26 May 2003 - Sunday's parliamentary elections in Armenia marked improvement over the recent presidential voting, but failed to meet international standards in several key areas, concluded an international observation mission led by the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The election was marred by a fatal shooting at a polling station on election day.

"After a generally peaceful campaign we have observed an election which represents an improvement in meeting international standards, despite a number of serious incidents and shortcomings during the electoral process", said Giovanni Kessler, the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation and special co-ordinator appointed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. "However, the low turnout is a clear indication of the lack of voter confidence in the electoral process and political institutions in the country. Enhancing such confidence is the major challenge to the political leadership in Armenia."

"There was undoubted progress towards meeting international standards despite a limited number of reported incidents of a very serious nature", added Lord Russell-Johnston, head of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly delegation. "I hope that those responsible will be held accountable and that there will be no return to the sense of impunity evident in the recent presidential election."

"While the legislative framework generally provides a basis for democratic elections, Armenia's leadership must demonstrate more determination in order that future elections meet international standards", said Ambassador Robert Barry, head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term observation mission.

The international observers noted several improvements in comparison with the recent presidential election, particularly with regard to the campaign and the media coverage. However, the observers pointed out that these improvements mirrored a similar development during the previous succession of presidential and parliamentary elections in 1998 and 1999, which also failed overall to comply with international standards. In addition to a generally inadequate performance of the election adminsitration, the mission again observed a number of irregularities during election day, including falsification of results, intimidation of observers, and violations of the secrecy of the ballot during military voting.

The international observation mission stressed that its final conclusion on the extent to which the elections meet international standards will depend on the transparency of the tabulation and announcement of results, and the complaints resolution process.

For further information, please contact:
- Angus Macdonald, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, +33(0)6 30 49 68 20
- Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR, Spokesperson, +48(0) 603 683 122
- Jan Jooren, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Press Counsellor, +45(0)404 11 641

International observers condemn violence overshadowing Armenian parliamentary elections

YEREVAN, 26.05.2003 – The international election observation mission for the Armenian parliamentary elections strongly condemns the shooting last night at a polling station in Shahumian, south of Yerevan, that reportedly resulted in the death of one person and the injuring of two others.

The Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which deployed some 200 observers to monitor yesterday's election, urged the authorities to start an investigation of the incident immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

A team of international observers was present at the polling station to monitor the vote count when the shooting took place last night in a village in Armenia's southern Ararat region.

The shooting seriously overshadowed an otherwise calm election day.

The international election observation mission will present its findings on the electoral process at a press conference in Yerevan today at 15:00 local time.