Strasburg. Fuad Gulubeyli – APA. Slovenia passed the chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on to Switzerland on November 18. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Samuel Žbogar handed over the chairmanship and reported about the work done by his country in the past six months. Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey announced the priorities of her country in the next six months of its presidency. Then handover ceremony was held.
Mrs. Calmy-Rey said Switzerland gave special importance to the European values and its activity would be based on three main directions – human rights protection and rule of law, strengthening of democratic institutions, increasing of transparency and effective work of the Council of Europe. She said Switzerland would attach special attention to the European Court of Human Rights, which is a guarantee of European fundamental freedoms and human rights. “Swiss government invites all member countries and international organizations to take active part at the high-level conference on ECHR reforms to be held in Switzerland in February, 2010. Switzerland will continue the process of ratification of Protocol 14 by all member countries during its presidency”.
Micheline Calmy-Rey said she would work for enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly.
Switzerland joined the Council of Europe on May 6, 1963 and became its 17th member. It ratified the European Convention on Human Rights on November 28, 1974. Switzerland will hold Council of Europe chairmanship from November 18, 2009 until May 11, 2010.