DR JOE BORG, IN STRASBOURG TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

DR JOE BORG, IN STRASBOURG TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, is in Strasbourg to participate in the 106^th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In his address to the Committee of Ministers Dr Joe Borg emphasised issues relating to human rights, democracy and rule of law, institutional reforms of the Council of Europe, as well as the Council of Europe's efforts in the Mediterranean region. In conclusion, Dr Borg stated that the events of 1999 and 2000 demonstrated that "the Council of Europe continues to have a major role to play in the peaceful and democratic evolution of our continent

During his visit, Dr. Joe Borg participated in an informal meeting organized by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe in which the Russian Foreign Minister outlined developments in Chechnya.

Dr. Joe Borg also had the opportunity to discuss Malta's EU membership and issues related to the ongoing EU Intergovernmental Conference on Institutional Reform with the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Ms Lydie Polfer and Seixas da Costa, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal.

In a separate meeting, Dr Borg met with Umberto Ranieri, Under-Secretary of State in the Italian Foreign Ministry where discussions focussed on Malta's membership of the European Union and bilateral issues. He is scheduled to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Petre Roman, later today.

STATEMENT BY THE HON. DR. JOE BORG MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF MALTA AT THE 106^TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Mr. Chairman,

First of all I wish to thank you personally, and the Irish Government, for having conducted your Presidency of the Council of Europe with such diplomacy, efficiency and effectiveness, despite the difficult circumstances. I would also like to thank the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for having hosted a very fruitful informal meeting yesterday.

On the eve of the Italian presidency, Malta looks forward to the coming six months which, judging from preliminary reports and from the excellent account given by Minister Dini yesterday, promise to further promote the principles and achievements of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Chairman,

Since the last meeting of the Committee of Ministers, my country has been selected, along with others, to start negotiating its accession to the European Union. Around this table, 15 countries belong to the European Union, 12 others are engaged in negotiations and others still will sooner or later join us on the same road. Our common membership of the Council of Europe is most relevant in this regard, because it testifies to our common values and standards: the strengthening and defence of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The Council of Europe is unique because of its system for the protection of human rights. The Convention - which this year celebrates its 50^th anniversary - the Court, the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and since last year the Commissioner for Human Rights - they are all engaged in the same objective. The Parliamentary Assembly is particularly relevant because it echoes the strongly held views and feelings of European public opinion. Our own credibility, as a Committee of Ministers and as an organisation, is continually being judged by our public, which is also our electorate. Our credibility also depends on the Court's effectiveness. The reforms carried out in recent years in the Court's structures are now under considerable work pressure. Important decisions need and must be taken in the near future to address that problem.

Other international organisations are engaged in compatible and complementary activities. My government, therefore, encourages the Secretary General to continue his constructive co-operation with them, including the OSCE. The experience of the Council of Europe and the OSCE in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania show that they can achieve the targeted political goals, while preserving their distinctive features. My government welcomes, in particular, the recent agreement between the two organisations on a set of Catalogue Activities.

In addition to its activities in favour of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the Council of Europe has a wide range of complementary objectives which are necessary for democratic stability. The results of the second Summit of Heads of State and Government are now being implemented through the structural reform of the Organisation and the accompanying setting down of priorities.

Within the various activities of the Council of Europe, the Select Committee of Experts on anti-money laundering measures is - in my government's view - carrying out a very useful task in those member states which are not members of the Financial Action Task Force. Mutual evaluation by these states of their anti-money laundering measures goes a long way towards ensuring the intensification of the global fight against money laundering. As a member of this Select Committee, Malta was positively evaluated in 1998 and all the Committee's recommendations, made in its report, have already been or are in the process of being implemented. Maltese experts have also participated in evaluating other countries. My government appreciates that these initiatives need to be financed and has recently made a substantial voluntary contribution in this regard.

The last ten years have seen a considerable increase in the degree of freedom and democracy enjoyed over our continent as a whole. They have also seen an increase in the Council of Europe's membership. It is essential that these two convergent developments bring about an increase in peace and stability in our region. In view of this we all welcomed the Stability Pact, adopted by the European Council at Cologne in June last year, with its prime objective of achieving "lasting peace, prosperity and stability for South East Europe."

From the outset of the Balkan wars, the Council of Europe, through its network of special assistance programmes, helped to spread its values to members of civil society, including vulnerable groups and NGOs. As a result of its on-the-ground experience, the Council of Europe was given a prime role in Working Table I in the Stability Pact which has the responsibility of promoting democracy and human rights in South East Europe.

In the same way, cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation as regards human rights, democratization and the rule of law needs to be maintained and further enhanced. My Government fully supports the initiative taken by the Council of Europe to address human rights violations in the Chechen Republic. The issue of human rights observance in the Chechen Republic and the maintenance of constructive dialogue between all parties are indispensable. Malta supports the statement made earlier in this session by the European Union Presidency regarding the situation in the Chechen Republic. I would also like to add that yesterday's informal meeting was very important with regard to Recommendation 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this regard the steps being taken by Russia towards meeting the concerns of the Council of Europe, including those raised by the Parliamentary Assembly, are particularly welcome.

Mr Chairman,

I cannot conclude my intervention without reference to the Mediterranean basin. Malta has a prime interest in the peace and stability of the region and has promoted the Mediterranean dimension of the Council of Europe's activities. We note that the Council of Europe has made reasonable progress in promoting its values in the Mediterranean region through the activities of its organs and partial agreements.

Through the Conventions and Partial Agreements open to accession by non-European Mediterranean states, co-operation can be enhanced in particular fields which are of interest to the region. In this context, my Government is aware of the great potential for Africa and the Mediterranean of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity (North/South Centre).

Another important step forward by the Council of Europe in promoting Euro-Mediterranean partnership, is its readiness to consider favourably requests from a number of non-European Mediterranean States to participate in the inter-governmental programme of activities, where they might send observers according to the explicit interest that they express in specific fields.

Mr. Chairman,

The events of 1999 and 2000 demonstrate that the Council of Europe continues to have a major role to play in the peaceful and democratic evolution of our continent. Our shared values and common objectives cannot be taken for granted. It is our common responsibility to work for their consolidation.