News

Lithuania is conducting active preparation for its term of presidency at the Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe, considering the office a unique opportunity to present itself to the international community as a democratic state, recognizing European values. Lithuania is taking over the presidency from Liechtenstein on November 8 and will be presiding over the committee till the end of May 2002. An interdepartmental meeting at Lithuanian Foreign Ministry on 24 of August discussed the priorities in Lithuania's Committee of Ministers' presidency. It was reported that the following events are planned to be held in Vilnius during Lithuania's presidency term: session of the Committee of Ministers on regional cooperation, conference of Europe's police chiefs, meeting of heads of national minorities' governmental institutions, conference of Eastern and Central Europe ombudsmen, Functions and role of ombudsmen in new democracy countries, and conference Cooperation across borders and EU enlargement. Presiding over the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is not only assuming a membership obligation, but also a unique opportunity to present Lithuania to the international community as a democratic state, recognizing human rights, rule of law and other European values. Lithuania will be for the first time presiding at an international organization, comprising 43 member states.