Information Documents
SG/Com(2007)984(restricted) 17 January 2007
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Communication by the Secretary General
and the Deputy Secretary General
to the 984th meeting of the
Ministers’ Deputies
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Communication by the Secretary General
1. Meeting with Ambassadors from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Strasbourg (13 December)
The Ambassadors of the ASEAN States accredited to Brussels visited Strasbourg at their own initiative to become acquainted with the Council of Europe. I therefore met Ms Cristina G. Ortega (Chairperson of the ASEAN Brussels Committee and Ambassador of the Philippines) and her colleagues, the Ambassadors of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
I put special emphasis on the Council of Europe position on capital punishment. For their part, the visitors showed strong interest in intercultural dialogue.
2. Meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly
Paris (15 December)
On 15 December in Paris, I attended the meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly. During my discussion with the Bureau, I referred to the 2007 budget which was adopted on 13 December, and I replied to the questions from the Bureau members. I also intervened during the items on the follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union and the Conference to launch the Council of Europe campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, which took place in Madrid on 27 November.
I gave an interview to France 3 on the issue of the control of secret services.
3. Meeting with Mr Yuriy Yakovlevich Chaika, Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Strasbourg (19 December)
Together with the Deputy Secretary General, I met Mr Yuriy Chaika who had come to Strasbourg to take part in the meeting of the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors.
We discussed co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation. Prosecutor General Chaika raised the issue of the efficiency of the Council of Europe instruments for mutual assistance in criminal matters.
4. Official visit to Italy
Rome (9 January)
During my visit to Rome, I met Mr Massimo d’Alema (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy), Mr Andrea Rigoni (Chair of the Italian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly) and the members of the Delegation, and Mr Umberto Ranieri (Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Relations).
My discussions with Foreign Minister d’Alema focused on the Council of Europe and its role in Europe, Kosovo, local elections in Albania and the death penalty.
I gave interviews to TV RAI-2, TV RAI News-24, Parliamentary TV, Radio RAI-International and the newspaper “La Sicilia”. The journalists’ interest was mostly focused on the death penalty. I gave my full support to the Italian initiative in the United Nations.
I should like to thank Ambassador Lonardo and the Italian authorities for organising this visit.
5. Meeting with Mr Georgi Pirinski, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
Strasbourg (15 January)
Mr Georgi Pirinski (Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria), who had come to Strasbourg for the session of the European Parliament, visited me to discuss the intention of Bulgaria to enhance its co-operation with the Council of Europe, in particular concerning the execution of the Court judgments.
He also informed me about the latest efforts being deployed by Bulgaria to find a solution to the issue of the medical staff on death row in Libya, and he asked for Council of Europe support.
6. Meeting with Ms Catherine Colonna, French Minister responsible for European Affairs
Strasbourg (16 January)
Yesterday, I had a working breakfast with Ms Catherine Colonna (French Minister responsible for European Affairs) who was accompanied by a small delegation from the Quai d’Orsay.
We discussed relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union - the Memorandum of Understanding, the Juncker report and the Fundamental Rights Agency, as well as relations with Belarus.
7. Nomination of Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in Podgorica
I can now inform you that I have decided to nominate Mr Vladimir Philipov as my Special Representative in Montenegro and Head of the Council of Europe Office in Podgorica. His initial mandate will be from 1 February to 31 December 2007.
Mr Philipov has been Special Representative in Chisinau for the past three years.
8. Entry into force of Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights
In my previous communications to you, I have kept you regularly informed about the process of ratification of Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights.
On 20 December, I was informed that the Russian State Duma had voted against the ratification of Protocol No. 14. As a result, I immediately sent letters to 20 countries asking them to start the necessary procedures under the current system for the election of 20 judges to the European Court of Human Rights. The letters contain a detailed timetable for the election procedure. My colleagues in the Directorate General of Human Rights are at the disposal of the countries concerned if they need any further clarification of the election procedure.
9. Data Protection Day
28 January
On 28 January, the Council of Europe will be celebrating Data Protection Day for the first time. This will be an occasion for Europeans to become more aware of personal data protection issues and their rights and responsibilities.
The right to respect for private and family life is of course a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
You will find further details on this Day on the Council of Europe web site (www.coe.int/dataprotection), including the events planned in the various member states. I shall also issue a public statement on this occasion.
10. Members of the Secretariat and Council of Europe/OSCE focal points
Following the retirement of Mr Guy de Vel and after consulting the Director General of Legal Affairs ad interim (Mr Philippe Boillat), I have decided to appoint Mr Rafael Benitez (DG I) as Anti-Terrorism Co‑ordinator. He will also take over the responsibility for supporting the focal point for the fight against terrorism.
Mr Hanno Hartig (DG II) will continue to support the focal point for the fight against trafficking in human beings and Mr Jan Kleijssen (DG II) will support the focal point for the protection of national minorities and the fight against racism and discrimination.
11. Smoking policy in the Council of Europe
Views on smoking at work have changed in recent years, and a number of countries have opted for a ban on smoking in public buildings. Others, including our host country, are following suit. Many international organisations have also adopted the same policy.
Smoking has already been banned in some Council of Europe offices - the Paris office (since the end of 2004), the Brussels, Graz and Lisbon offices, the Pharmacopoeia building and the Strasbourg Youth Centre. The feedback from staff is positive, and outside experts have understood and accepted the decision without difficulty.
All the Council of Europe buildings will become non-smoking environments as from 1 February 2007.
This measure will be applicable for everybody entering Council of Europe premises. The reasons are simple: I want to give a clear signal that the Council of Europe cares about the health of staff and other people working here as well as visitors and therefore would like to avoid passive smoking.
This decision will be supported by an internal regulatory instrument and accompanying measures.
This decision is accompanied by measures to help people to give up smoking if they wish to do so. From November last year, the infirmary has made nicotine replacement chewing gum available for individuals who wish to give up smoking. From this January, our health insurance covers reimbursement of medical support for staff members who decide to give up smoking.
For smokers who do not wish to stop, different alternatives have been considered. I have decided that the cheapest, nevertheless acceptable, way to comply with a guaranteed smoke-free environment is to provide sheltered smoking areas outside the buildings. I have asked our Directorate of Logistics to implement this decision before the end of January.
An in-house information campaign about the implementation of this policy will be organised by the Directorate of Logistics in the course of the next few weeks in close co-operation with our Health and Safety Committee. For the future, convocation letters to meetings taking place on Council of Europe premises will contain information about our smoke-free policy.
I hope you will understand and actively support my decision.
12. Staff matters (in camera)
Communication by the Deputy Secretary General
1. Meeting with Ms Gordana Djurovic, Vice Prime Minister of Montenegro responsible for European Integration
Strasbourg (14 December)
On 14 December, I met Ms Gordana Djurovic (Vice Prime Minister of Montenegro) with whom I discussed the co-operation between the Council of Europe and Montenegro with a view to its accession to the Organisation.
We also discussed the Campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, the Campaign “Building a Europe for and with children” and the “All different - All equal” Campaign.
2. Meeting with Mr Alexander Zviagintsev, Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation
Strasbourg (15 December)
On 15 December, I had a working lunch with Mr Alexander Zviagintsev (Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation). We discussed in particular the follow-up to be given at Council of Europe level to the conclusions of the Conference of Ministers of Justice and of the Interior (November 2006) concerning the operation of the Council of Europe conventions in the penal field (for example, extradition, mutual legal assistance and transfer of sentenced persons).
We agreed on the need for these conventions to be reviewed and, where necessary, updated, to make international co-operation in criminal matters amongst Council of Europe member states quicker and more effective, including as regards resolving disputes between states.
3. Gala Dinner ASTARTE, in favour of children, organised by the National UNICEF Committee of San Marino and the Italian association for the defence of children “Telefono Azzurro’, in the framework of the Campaign “Building a Europe for and with children” and official contacts
San Marino (16 December)
On 16 December, I attended the Gala Dinner ASTARTE, in favour of children, which was organised bythe National UNICEF Committee of San Marino and the Italian association for the defence of children “Telefono Azzurro”. I wish to thank the President of the Committee of Ministers, Mr Fiorenzo Stolfi, for having placed this event within the framework of our Programme “Building a Europe for and with children” and for the decision to invest the funds raised from the auction in a Council of Europe project on children’s rights education.
Before the Gala Dinner, I visited an elementary school where I met Ms Francesca Michelotti (Minister of Education and Culture of San Marino) and a group of teachers who presented their extremely creative pedagogic projects around the topic of children’s rights.
Following contacts established during the event with Professor Ernesto Caffo (President of SOS “Telefono Azzurro” ONLUS), I had the opportunity just last week to express my views on our Programme “Building a Europe for and with children” in an interview for their in‑house Journal called Azzurro Child.
I also wish to thank Ambassador Bellatti Ceccoli for having organised this very pleasant visit to San Marino.
4. Meeting of the Committee on Legal affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly
Paris (18 December)
On 18 December, I travelled to Paris to participate in the meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly. I contributed more specifically to the discussion on the adoption of the draft Report of Mr Jean-Charles Gardetto on “Children victims: eradicate all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse”.
The draft Report, including the draft Resolution and draft Recommendation, was adopted unanimously by the Committee and will be presented to the first part of the 2007 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly later this month. I remind you that an important part of the forthcoming Assembly Session will be devoted to a debate on children’s rights. Notably, Ms Ann Veneman (Executive Director of UNICEF) and Princess Caroline of Hanover (President of the World Association of Children’s Friends) have been invited to take part in this debate.
I take this opportunity to inform you that, in the margins of this debate, on 23 January at 1.00 pm outside the Assembly Chamber, the Council of Europe will organise the European launch of the UN Secretary General’s Study on violence against children. Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Independent Expert who led the Study, will participate.
As I have already had the opportunity to highlight on previous occasions, our Organisation will constitute the regional forum for the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Study through our Programme “Building a Europe for and with children”.
I look forward to seeing all of you there.
5. Meeting with Mrs Midori Matsushima, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
Strasbourg (20 December)
On 20 December, I met Ms Midori Matsushima (Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan) with whom I discussed the relations between the Council of Europe and Japan, which in 2006 marked its 10-year anniversary as an observer to the Council of Europe. As an observer, Japan participates in many different ways in Council of Europe action, including by voluntary financial contributions amounting to some € 800 000 for the whole period.
Ms Matsushima informed me about the new foreign policy initiatives of Japan within the concept of a “Eurasian arch of security and prosperity”. We discussed very constructively the Council of Europe Campaigns and had a frank exchange about capital punishment.
6. Meeting with Mr Ernst Maurits Henricus Hirsch Ballin, Minister of Justice of the Netherlands
Strasbourg (10 January)
On 10 January, I met Mr Ernst Maurits Henricus Hirsch Ballin (Minister of Justice of the Netherlands) with whom I discussed inter alia the main issues of relevance to the Council of Europe which are on the agenda of the next meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Dresden in January (including questions relating to international co-operation in criminal matters, return of unaccompanied minors, family law and e-justice).
We also discussed the follow-up to the Juncker Report and the ongoing discussions on the draft Memorandum of Understanding, the reform of the Court (including the Wise Persons Report) and the Council of Europe Programme “Building a Europe for and with children”. I was very pleased to hear the very positive attitude of the Minister of Justice on most of these topics and on the need for close co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe.
The issue of child abduction was raised by the Minister as an area where further work could possibly be undertaken by the Council of Europe.