News

On 11 May Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oskaras Jusys during the 117th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe exchanged opinions with the heads of delegations of the Council member states on the fulfilment of obligations undertaken during the Warsaw Summit and future activities of the Council of Europe.

The major attention in the participants’ addresses was devoted to the implementation of the reforms of the European system of human rights, based on the Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights. The protocol has been ratified by all members of the Council except for Russia.

Another focus of attention was interinstitutional cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union.  The Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union which constitutes the new framework for enhanced co-operation between the organisations was signed.

The ceremony of accession of the Republic of Montenegro to the Council of Europe also took place during the session. Montenegro is the 47th member of the Council of Europe.

At the Session of the Committee of Ministers, when Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet and Russian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Aleksandr Grushko in their addresses raised the issue of removal of the ‘Bronze Soldier’ monument, the Head of Lithuanian delegation O. Jusys noted that Lithuania supports the position of Estonian Government concerning the decision to place with due respect the memorial to Soviet soldiers at the military cemetery.

Undersecretary of the Ministry O.Jusys drew attention to grave violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations directed against Estonian Embassy and diplomats in Moscow, and stressed that attacks on Estonian Government in electronic space are unacceptable among the members of the Council of Europe.