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Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, allow me to commend our dear colleague Ahmet Davutoglu for his efforts to reinforce the political role and influence of the Council of Europe during the six months of the Turkish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

I would also like to extend my best wishes for success to our Ukrainian colleague Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, who will lead us now for the coming six months. Let me assure the incoming Chairmanship of my country’s full cooperation.

In the rapidly changing international environment, the Council of Europe must remain a leading pan-European institution uniting its member states through legally binding rules and standards and helping them to fulfill their commitments they took when joining the Organization, to deal with the challenges they face in the fields of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. In particular, we should be persistent targeting those parts of the European continent and societies where the values proclaimed by the Organization are most lacking. I would like to note with appreciation that efforts to modernize this Organization, to make it more result-oriented, effective and efficient, are gaining momentum. We congratulate the Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland for his initiative and energy in moving this organization forward on the path of reform and reaffirm our commitment to the reform process. 

In the broader reform context, my Government welcomes the adoption of the Declaration and its follow-up plan of Izmir high-level conference. The European Court of Human Rights remains a cornerstone of the system of the European Convention on Human Rights. Its efficient functioning and credibility are of utmost priority for the Contracting Parties in the post-Interlaken process. It is our firm belief that we are capable to find the most competent settlement to ensure the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights.

In my capacity as the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, I wish to highlight areas where the Council of Europe and the OSCE work hand in hand and complement each other over broad range of issues. These include transnational threats, cyber challenges and trafficking in human beings, as well as protracted conflicts and media freedom. On June 7-8 in Vilnius I will host an OSCE conference on the Safety of Journalists. I am pleased that Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, and Ukrainian Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, the incoming Chairman of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will both be taking part.

Seeking to resolve protracted conflicts in our region has been at the top of my agenda as OSCE Chairman.  I visited Moldova and the South Caucasus early this year. There is no real alternative to peaceful dialogue to find solutions. The conditions for moving ahead in the settlement of the conflict in Transnistria are ripe.  I call for the start of formal 5+2 negotiations this summer.

In addressing conflicts in South Caucasus, the Geneva talks offer practical arrangements to achieve progress. I note the importance of the recommendations by Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg in his report on human rights issues following the August 2008 armed conflict in Georgia.

The recent and ongoing change in North Africa highlights the complex and comprehensive nature of security. In Tunisia last month as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, I discussed possibilities of support of democratic transition. This included electoral assistance, police reform, developing the rule of law and democratic institution building. Elections for the Founding Assembly in Tunisia are set for 24th of July. The OSCE proposed training of election observers and assistance to develop democratic political parties in a pluralistic society. We have discussed long term engagement between the OSCE and the Mediterranean partner countries. At this juncture it is important that the OSCE, Council of Europe, the UN and other international institutions closely coordinate their efforts and activities in assisting the transition to democracy.

I thank you.