News

On 19 March, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis participated at the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. Addressing the session, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Antanas Valionis underscored the importance of closer co-operation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe (CoE) in the fields of the protection of human rights, international action against terrorism, abolition of death penalty and implementation of decisions made by the World Conference against Racism. During his visit in Geneva, Antanas Valionis met with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and discussed the importance of regional co-operation in promoting the protection of human rights in Europe and throughout the world. The session “Regional Co-operation and its Effects on Democratic Developments” of CoE Committee of Ministers to be held in Vilnius in May was mentioned as a good example of the initiative. At the meeting the preparation of the National Human Rights Action Plan was also discussed. Minister Valionis also met with Director General of the International Organisation for Migration Brunson McKinley and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers to discuss the programmes carried out in Lithuania and the entire region.