Press Release Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division Ref: 394a04 Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60 Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11 [email protected] internet: www.coe.int/press
45 members Chairman of the Committee of Ministers comments on the Albania Andorra current conflict in South Ossetia, Georgia Armenia Austria Strasbourg, 20.08.04 - Jan Petersen, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Azerbaijan Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, has expressed Belgium Bosnia and his concern about the human suffering and loss of life caused by the latest Herzegovina developments in the conflict in South Ossetia. Bulgaria Croatia “I would like to reiterate the support of the Council of Europe for the sovereignty Cyprus Czech Republic and territorial integrity of its member state Georgia. I strongly urge all parties to Denmark respect the ceasefire and to exercise the utmost restraint in their actions and Estonia words. It is essential not to undermine the fragile basis that exists for de- Finland escalating the crisis and rebuilding the confidence needed for a lasting and France peaceful political settlement,” said Foreign Minister Petersen. Georgia Germany Greece The latest events have confirmed that it is time to tackle the problems of Hungary substance at a high political level. The Chairman therefore welcomed recent Iceland proposals by both the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the Georgian authorities to Ireland Italy stimulate the political process. Latvia Liechtenstein “The statement from the Office of the President of Georgia, expressing the Lithuania readiness of the Georgian Government to offer South Ossetia broad autonomy Luxembourg within a federal Georgian state, including dual citizenship and power sharing at Malta Moldova the central government level, is a positive signal,” said the Minister. Netherlands Norway Foreign Minister Petersen also expressed the readiness of the Council of Poland Europe to offer its support and expertise to help the parties find solutions to the Portugal Romania crisis. Russia San Marino Serbia and Montenegro Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact : [email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 45 member states.