OSCE and CoE Hold High-Level Meeting in Vienna

VIENNA, 12 April 2000 - The Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Foreign Minster Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria, the Secretary General of the OSCE, Jan Kubis, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Foreign Minister Brian Cowen of Ireland and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, met today at the Hofburg Congress Center in Vienna for the annual "2+2 meeting".

The Ministers focused on current issues of concern to the OSCE and the Council of Europe, among them the conflict in Chechnya, preparations for local elections in Kosovo, the situation in Montenegro, in Moldova and in Belarus.

The participants emphasized the importance they attach to Russia's contribution to the full range of activities of both the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Russia should continue to play its full part in both Organizations.

Through its membership of and co-operation with both Organizations, Russia is drawing on their practical expertise in pursuing political and economic reforms. The participants focused their discussion on the co-operation between both Organizations in regard to the situation in Chechnya.

They shared the widespread public concerns regarding the situation in Chechnya and stressed the urgency of a satisfactory response to these concerns. They called upon Russia to carry out an independent and thorough investigation into alleged human rights violations and to prosecute those found responsible. The Council of Europe side provided information on the adoption last week of Recommendation 1456 of its Parliamentary Assembly.

The Council of Europe representatives gave information about the provision of consultative expert assistance in human rights to the Office of Mr. Kalamanov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation, and the organization of regional seminars on democracy, human rights, the rule of law and federalism in the region. The OSCE welcomed these developments and expressed their readiness to co-operate in this regard. It was noted that discussions on security and other practical aspects should shortly be completed and that the experts should soon arrive in the region.

The participants looked to Russia to create the conditions necessary for the effective presence in Chechnya and the region of international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, in particular the OSCE and humanitarian bodies.

Given their complementary roles, both Organizations are committed to maintaining maximum co-operation on this issue over the coming period, including practical aspects of their presence in the region.

The Ministers and the Secretaries General also confirmed the importance of preparing for municipal elections in Kosovo. They noted that the civil registration process would be launched on 17 April, to be completed in late July. Elections are then planned for October 2000 under OSCE supervision. A major priority will be to ensure the registration of Serbian refugees in Serbia and Montenegro and enabling them to vote. The participants urged Belgrade to co-operate fully with the election process.

The tense situation in Montenegro was a subject of concern for the participants from the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The Ministers and Secretaries General agreed that the OSCE and the Council of Europe would continue to closely focus on relations between Belgrade and Podgorica. They stressed that increased political and financial support for Montenegro by the international community is vitally important to the future stability of the region.

The participants welcomed the encouraging steps which have been recently taken in the process of the settlement of the Transdniestrian problem in Moldova and reiterated their expectation of an early, orderly and complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova. The Council of Europe is discussing further assistance to Moldova.

On Belarus, the participants expressed their concern about the development of democratic principles and the respect of human rights especially in the field of freedom of assembly. They called upon the government to commit itself to conditions in which a free and genuine dialogue, involving also the opposition, can take place, and which can lead to free and fair elections in autumn. The OSCE and the Council of Europe should remain fully involved.

The protection of national minorities in Europe remains a priority issue for both Organizations.

Working in the same fields like democratization, human rights and institution-building, close co-operation is of utmost importance for both Organizations. To this end, the OSCE and the Council of Europe have agreed on a Common Catalogue of Co-operation Modalities.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat,tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.orgor Mr. Dmitri Marchenkov, Council of Europe, Press Service,tel.: (+33-3) 88 41 38 44 or e-mail: pressunit@coe.int