MINELRES: CoE FCNM: AC visits Ukraine; Committee of Ministers issues recommendations on Spain

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


National Minorities in Ukraine: visit of the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities

Strasbourg 07.04.2008 - A delegation of the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) is
visiting Ukraine from 06-11 April 2008 in the context of the monitoring
of the implementation of the Framework Convention by this country. In
addition to Kiev, the delegation will visit Simferopol.

This is the second visit of the Advisory Committee to Ukraine. The
objective is to evaluate the progress made by Ukraine in implementing
the Framework Convention and in particular, to take stock of the
legislative and policy measures taken by the authorities to follow-up on
the recommendations of the Advisory Committee in its first Opinion.

The Delegation will be having meetings with the representatives of all
relevant ministries, as well as with the Parliament and other
institutions as well as representatives of the Constitutional Court. In
addition to contacts with public officials, the Delegation will also
meet persons belonging to national minorities and Human Rights NGOs.

The delegation visiting Ukraine includes Ms Eva Smith-Asmussen (member
elected in respect of Denmark) and Ms Ilze Brands-Kehris (member elected
in respect of Latvia). They will be accompanied by Mr Alain Chablais and
Ms Eva Konecna from the Secretariat. 

Note: Ukraine submitted its second State Report under the Framework
Convention in June 2006. Following its visit, the Advisory Committee
will adopt its own report (called Opinion) in May 2008, which will be
sent to the Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations in
respect of Ukraine.

Contact: Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities, Strasbourg (France),  tel +33 (0)3 90 21 44 33


The Committee of Ministers issues recommendations on minority protection
in Spain

Strasbourg 08.04.2007 - The Committee of Ministers has just adopted a
resolution on the protection of minorities in Spain. The resolution
contains conclusions and recommendations, highlighting positive
developments, but also a number of areas where further measures are
needed to advance the implementation of the Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities.

The resolution is largely based on the corresponding Opinion of the
Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention. The detailed Opinion of
the Advisory Committee of independent experts, together with the
comments by the Government of Spain, are also available on line. 

(see news:
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/minorities/1._general_presentation/1._news/N
ews%202008.asp#TopOfPage
)


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


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