MINELRES: Council of Europe and the Participation of National Minorities in Public Affairs

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Original sender: Nicola Markes-Goerlach <Nicola.MARKES-GOERLACH@coe.int>


THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE BACKS THE DEBATE ON THE PARTICIPATION OF NATIONAL
MINORITIES IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Strasbourg, 07.03.2006 � In partnership with the Council of Europe, the
Romanian authorities organised a conference on the role of consultative
bodies of national minorities at the hotel ARO Palace, Brasov, on
Tuesday 7 March.

The aim of the conference was to foster discussion between consultative
bodies of national minorities, government experts, researchers,
representatives of civil society and leading figures of the 46 member
states of the Council of Europe on the participation of national
minorities in public affairs. Discussion focused on the functioning,
composition and tasks of consultative bodies, providing an opportunity
for the participants to exchange their experiences.

The most outstanding experiences will be included in a handbook to be
prepared by the relevant Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe,
which will serve as a reference point for member countries when they
implement new policies for the consultation of national minorities. 

Marko Bela, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister, opened the conference at
9.30 a.m. in the presence of the Director of Human Rights of the Council
of Europe, Philippe Boillat. 

The conference was open to the press. 

A press conference was held on Tuesday, 7 March, at 11 a.m. (Hotel ARO
Palace) with:

- Marko Bela, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister
- Attila Marko, State Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
- Philippe Boillat, Human Rights Director, Council of Europe
- Marc Weller, Director, European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
- Antti Korkeakivi, Executive Secretary of the Framework Convention for
the Protection of National Minorities. 

Romania currently holds the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe for a term expiring on 19 May. 

The Programme and briefing note may be consulted on the following
webpage: 

http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/Minorities/1._GENERAL_PRESENTATION/1._News/N
ews%282006%29007%20%20Meeting_Brasov.asp#TopOfPage 



Nicola Markes-Goerlach 
Council of Europe 
Directorate General of Human Rights 
Secretariat of the Framework Convention 
for the Protection of National Minorities 
F-67075 Strasbourg-Cedex 
http://www.coe.int/minorities


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