Chairman-in-Office declaration on the 50th Anniversary of the Council of Europe

OSLO, 10 May 1999 - As Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, I wish to pay tribute on behalf of the OSCE to the Council of Europe on the occasion of its 50^th Anniversary.

Through its tireless promotion of the fundamental values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, the Council of Europe has helped to build the Europe of today. These are the same values on which the OSCE is founded. The fact that we at present are witnessing gross violations of these same values in Kosovo only serves to underscore the importance of persevering in our common effort to promote them.

I would especially like to commend the Council of Europe on its resolute and rapid response to the profound changes in Europe after 1989. The Council of Europe's rapid enlargement made an important contribution to the healing of a divided Europe.

The OSCE considers the Council of Europe a principal partner organization, operating in a mutually supportive manner in the same area and with the same objectives. Cooperation between our two organizations and parliamentary assemblies has intensified in recent years, with regular high level consultations and broad cooperation in the field, especially with regard to election monitoring. I welcome the proposal to appoint a Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. I am sure this new office will prove a valuable instrument.

The OSCE looks forward to continued cooperation with the Council of Europe into the new millenium.