NEWS RELEASES
CANADA APPOINTS FIRST PERMANENT OBSERVERTO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
August 1, 1996 No. 136
CANADA APPOINTS FIRST PERMANENT OBSERVER
TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today appointed Réjean Frenette, Canada's
Ambassador to Switzerland, as Canada's first Permanent Observer to the Council of
Europe (COE).
"Having a permanent observer will enable Canada to strengthen its relations with
the Council in all areas, ranging from human rights and legal affairs to culture,
education, environment, public health, social issues and sports," said
Mr. Axworthy.
Observer status allows Canada to appoint a permanent observer to attend meetings
of ministers' representatives, and as well to send observers to committees of
experts and to conferences of specialized ministers. Mr. Axworthy received
official notification of the Council's decision to grant observer status to Canada
in June.
The Council's membership comprises almost all European countries, including
Russia. Observer status has been granted only to Canada and the United States.
Canada has established close links with the Council of Europe over the years. For
example, Canadian government representatives regularly attend meetings concerning
Council of Europe programs for co-operation and assistance in Central and Eastern
Europe, notably with regard to Russia.
"The Council of Europe is a vital part of the European political structure, and
Canada is proud to have received acknowledgment from the 39 member states of its
deeply rooted commitment to security, democracy and human rights in Europe,"
concluded Mr. Axworthy.
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A backgrounder on the Council of Europe is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Backgrounder
THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949. It is the largest of the exclusively
European institutions, representing 39 member countries. Its headquarters are in
Strasbourg, France.
The Council of Europe performs various roles, notably in providing:
a focus for the unity of democratic Europe, by bringing together the 15 members
of the European Union with other democratic countries;
a major forum for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
the means for bringing together parliamentarians from member countries,
a framework for intergovernmental activities in such diverse fields as legal co-operation, culture, education, sports, social affairs, environment,
communications, health and youth; and, more recently,
a forum for developing closer co-operation between the countries of Eastern,
Central and Western Europe.
According to the Statute of the Council of Europe, membership is open to any
democratic European state that accepts the principles of the rule of law and the
enjoyment by all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. Resolution (93)26, adopted by the Committee of Ministers in May 1993,
allowed any state (including non-European states) willing to accept the principles
of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and wishing
to co-operate with the Council of Europe, to be granted observer status.
The main instruments of the Council of Europe are the Committee of Ministers, the
Parliamentary Assembly, the European Commission of Human Rights and the European
Court of Human Rights. Member countries of the Council of Europe are expected to
sign the European Convention of Human Rights, a legally enforceable document.
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