San Marino al Consiglio d'Europa

This morning the 117th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe took place in Strasbourg. On the occasion, Chairman Stolfi reported about the successes achieved by San Marino Chairmanship on the basis of the goals set in its programme.
There was unanimous consensus and great appreciation within the Committee of Ministers for what San Marino achieved in its six-month Chairmanship, which, according to many people, will leave a lasting mark, because it has enabled the European Organisation to move closer to its most important goals.
The Committee of Ministers examined, according to the order of the day, the relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, the consolidation of the Council of Europe human rights protection system and the follow-up to the priorities resulting from the Warsaw Summit.
After analysing the themes on the agenda, it was signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union. “This signature represents a great success for our Chairmanship”, said Stolfi, “it is the result of hard work of mediation which has led to an agreement among all the Member States on this instrument, which will help us to enhance the co-operation between the Council of Union and the European Union.”
The representatives of many countries showed their appreciation for the patient, persistent negotiations conducted by San Marino Chairmanship, which thanks to its delegation in Strasbourg was able to conclude an agreement of great importance for the future of the two main European Organisation.

At the close of the session the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Draskovic, took the floor and presented the objectives of the Serbian Chairmanship. Finally, San Marino officially handed over the Chairmanship to Serbia.
During the press conference, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, praised San Marino Chairmanship’s achievements.
“Although San Marino doesn’t hold the Chairmanship anymore”, said Stolfi, “it will continue co-operating in the Council of Europe. The experience made is a source of richness for us and we will use it by intensifying our action at international level”.

To examine the Memorandum, visit the web-site of the Council of Europe: www.coe.int


San Marino, 11 may 2007