Nyt fra E u r o p a r å d e t
Opdatering oktober og kalender november
Pressemeddelelse DK 13/04, 1. november 2004
Monaco optaget som Europarådets 46. medlemsstat
Strasbourg, 05.10.2004 – The ceremony for the accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Council of
Europe took place this afternoon in Strasbourg, and was welcomed by the leaders of the Organisation.
The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, said: “With the
accession of Monaco, the Council of Europe is closer than ever to the goal set up by its first Summit, in
Vienna in 1993: to bring together, on an equal footing and in permanent structures, all European democratic
countries. The Third Summit, in Warsaw next year, will give us the opportunity to celebrate Europe’s unity”.
Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said: “The accession we celebrate today puts an end to a
regrettable absence. The geographical position, history, culture and traditions of Monaco make it an integral
part of European civilisation. It shares Europe’s fundamental values, and it is natural, therefore, that Monaco
should enter the Council of Europe. “In joining us, Monaco is becoming part of – and contributing to – a
shared European future. Not the future of an ‘old’ o r ‘new’ Europe, but the future of one Europe,” added
Mr Davis.
Council of Europe leaders welcome the signing of EU Constitution
Strasbourg, 29.10.2004 – Foreign Minister of Norway, Jan Petersen, in his capacity as Chairman of the
Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Schieder and
Secretary General of the 46-nation Organisation Terry Davis welcomed the signing of the Treaty establishing
a Constitution for Europe in Rome today as a significant step in the European integration process.
“Implementation of the Treaty will be a decisive step towards a stronger and more effective Europe and will
have important consequences for our continent as a whole,” they said. “We particularly welcome the
Treaty’s provision clearing the way for EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. This
will not only link the 25-member European Union and the 46-nation Council of Europe, but it will make a
crucial contribution to creating a coherent system of human rights protection in Europe, based on common
standards and safeguards,” stressed Council of Europe leaders.
The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe expresses
serious concern about the parliamentary elections in Belarus
Strasbourg, 19.10.2004
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Reacting to the parliamentary elections in Belarus, Jan Petersen, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Norway and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, expressed
serious concern. “The electoral process failed to meet European stan dards. Another opportunity has been
missed to bring Belarus closer to the European family”, said Mr Petersen.
The importance of free and fair elections as a means of bringing Belarus closer to the Council of Europe, for
which Belarus is a candidate state, has repeatedly been stressed by member states of the organisation.
Foreign Minister Petersen also recalled the deep concern expressed by the Committee of Ministers on the
issues of disappeared persons and lack of freedom of the press in Belarus.
“Eight y ears have passed since the previous referendum and developments in Belarus have only increased
the country’s isolation. The Belarusian people deserves a better future”, concluded Mr Petersen.
