The News (Site updated Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 14:00)
Council of Europe and OSCE discuss situation in Georgia
[15/09/2008 18:30:00] Carl Bildt, the Committee of Ministers chairman, met Finland’s Foreign Minister and OSCE chairman Alexander Stubb in Brussels on 15 September and discussed common interests including the situation in Georgia. They called for strict adherence to the six-point ceasefire agreement and declared ''fundamental'' the return of Russian troops to their positions held prior to 7 August. They also agreed on the importance of continuing to assess the overall human rights situation in the war-affected areas, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
(more ...) Joint declaration
Moneyval publishes its first evaluation report on Israel
[17/09/2008 12:00:00] On 17 September, the Moneyval Committee (Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism) published its first evaluation report on Israel, an active observer to Moneyval.
The report analyses the country’s implementation of international and European standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and assesses levels of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 40+9 Recommendations.
(more ...) File 'Economic crime'
International Day for Democracy : statement by Terry Davis
[15/09/2008 08:30:00] ''Growing disinterest'' and the ''disillusion of voters,'' are rising challenges to democratic institutions, the Secretary General declared on 15 September, the UN’s International Day for Democracy.
Without ''skills and information to deal with complex issues,'' he said people could ''embrace simplistic messages which cater to their fears and frustrations.''
(more ...)
Terry Davis condemns executions in Japan(more ...)
Kyiv hosts anti-corruption roundtable
[16/09/2008 10:30:00] International experts and representatives from government and civil society will gather in Kyiv (Ukraine) on 19 September for a roundtable discussion entitled ''Identification, Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds from Corruption.''
The event aims to assist Ukraine in improving its legislation and practices in line with international and European standards.
(more ...)
Serbia must complete programme of reforms, says Monitoring Committee
[15/09/2008 16:00:00] ''Serbia must complete its programme of reforms,'' said Charles Goerens and Andreas Gross, the Assembly’s co-rapporteurs for the honouring of obligations and commitments by Serbia.
In a draft report made public on 15 September, the Monitoring Committee said the strengthening of democratic institutions and concrete implementation of reforms can but further Serbia's European integration.
(more ...)
Pre-election visit to Baku by a Assembly delegation
[15/09/2008 11:30:00]
A five-member Assembly delegation consisting of one representative for each of the five political groups and headed by Andres Herkel will be visiting Azerbaijan from 15 to 18 September in the run-up to the presidential election scheduled for 15 October.
(more ...)
Request to reconsider the credentials of the Russian delegation to Assembly
[12/09/2008 16:30:00] On 12 September, a group of twenty-four members of the Parliamentary Assembly submitted a request for the reconsideration of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation ''on substantive grounds'', ahead of the Assembly’s forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (29 September-3 October).
(more ...)
Ceremony to award 2007 Europe Prize to Katowice(more ...)
''Building a Europe for and with Children'' Website
Committee of Ministers
Third ''human rights'' special meeting
[16/09/2008 15:30:00] On 17 and 18 September, the Committee supervises the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments. Some 361 new cases will be examined. It will also consider the adoption of final resolutions in 110 cases and assess whether some 42 further cases are ready to be closed.
(more ...)
Discussions continue on conflict in Georgia(more ...)
Netherlands: Thomas Hammarberg to assess human rights situation
[16/09/2008 12:30:00] Policies affecting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, integration, children’s rights and the fight against discrimination and intolerance are some of the main topics that the Commissioner for Human Rights will assess during his four-day high-level official visit to the Netherlands starting on 21 September.
(more ...)
Thomas Hammarberg : ''Persons displaced during conflicts have the right to return''
[16/09/2008 09:30:00] In the aftermath of the South Ossetia conflict, the Commissioner for Human Rights, analyses the humanitarian challenges posed by forced displacements in crisis situations. The Commissioner recalls States’ obligations to offer internally displaced persons (IDPs) long-term settlement solutions and, until such time, to assure them adequate living conditions.
(more ...)
Thomas Hammarberg updates Assembly monitoring committee on situation in Armenia(more ...)
Yavuz Mildon: ''Improving road safety requires direct involvement of territorial authorities''
[17/09/2008 10:30:00] ''Road safety is linked to mobility of our citizens within and between cities and regions, necessitating the direct involvement of local and regional authorities as well as intermunicipal, interregional and transfrontier cooperation,'' Congress President stressed in his speech before the 2nd International Congress on Road Safety, in St Petersburg (Russia) on 17 September.
Speech [FR]
2nd general meeting of associations of local and regional authorities
[12/09/2008 16:30:00] The 2nd general meeting of associations of local and regional authorities will take place in Strasbourg on 18 September. Organised by the Congress, this meeting is aimed at improving cooperation between the Congress and national associations of territorial communities. Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress, Ulrich Bohner, Secretary General of the Congress, and Terry Davis, Secretary General, will open the meeting.
(more ...) File Programme (pdf)
Ratification by Montenegro of the European Local Self-Government Charter(more ...)
Yavuz Mildon: ''Congress ready to assist local authorities in Georgia''(more ...)
Open day at the Council of Europe
[10/09/2008 14:30:00] On Sunday 21 September, to mark European Heritage Days, the Council of Europe expects to receive the general public at its open day on the theme ''People meeting people.'' The Agora building is the venue, where staff will be present from 9am to 6 pm to tell visitors about the various Council of Europe programmes and campaigns.
File
SEE ALSO
Death of former Secretary General Georg Kahn-Ackermann(more ...)
European Audiovisual Observatory reports on European co-productions(more ...)
Council of Europe - Activity report 2007 (2008) 
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Moneyval publishes its first evaluation report on Israel
International Day for Democracy : statement by Terry Davis
Request to reconsider the credentials of the Russian delegation to Assembly
Stockholm Conference: progress towards improvement of children’s rights
Dosta! ''Fight prejudices towards Roma''
''All Different, All Equal''
''Building a Europe for and with Children''
Third ''human rights'' special meeting
Netherlands: Thomas Hammarberg to assess human rights situation
Yavuz Mildon: ''Improving road safety requires direct involvement of territorial authorities''
Open day at the Council of Europe
