D21(2009)
25.06.2009
Address by Borut PAHOR
Prime Minister of Slovenia
on the occasion of the third part of the 2009 Ordinary Session
of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
(Strasbourg, 22-26 June 2009)
Mr President, Secretary General, Members of the Parliamentary Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour to address this esteemed assembly as the Prime Minister of the country that holds the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. At the same time, it is a great pleasure to speak here as a former chairperson of the Slovenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly.
As a Member of the Assembly, I was here for the first time in 1993. At that time, Slovenia acceded to the Council of Europe, thus making an important step towards the state we had imagined and strove for. Our main guidance were the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe, and we reached our goal. The transition period demanded profound structural changes and thanks to the people in Slovenia – who in crucial times understood that change was necessary – we were successful.
However, despite the favourable national response to changes, the transition towards a democratic state, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, would not have been possible without a positive attitude of the international community. As a small and young state, Slovenia was well aware of the importance and the benefits of memberships in international organisations. In this regard, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was certainly a most appropriate platform for a state to learn the basics of democracy.
Slovenia’s membership of the Council of Europe had a significant influence on our country’s development in the past and its status today. On this very day, Slovenia is celebrating its National Day. Eighteen years ago, our country adopted the Declaration of Independence and formally became an independent state. One may say that today Slovenia has reached its majority – not only for its 18 years of age, but also for the experience it has gained, the skills it has acquired and, undoubtedly, the actions it has taken. In the past years, Slovenia’s role in numerous international organisations has substantially evolved. First, Slovenia was a member and held the presidency of the UN Security Council; in 2005, it chaired the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and in 2008, it was at the helm of the Council of the European Union.
All this experience has strengthened Slovenia and prepared it for the task it is carrying out today. The Slovenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is an additional proof of our devotion to multilateralism and cooperation between international organisations. In the time of globalisation, this is the only way of ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Such was our approach last year, during the presidency of the EU Council, when Slovenia encouraged cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union, and such is our approach this year, when Slovenia is behind the steering wheel of the Committee of Ministers, fully understanding the significance of the coordination between the two organisations.
Yet, the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers does not only coincide with Slovenia’s 18th anniversary. In 2009, the Council of Europe – which since its creation has been promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and democracy – is celebrating its 60th birthday, and the European Court of Human Rights its 50th anniversary.
These jubilees, however, should not be seen as pure marks of age or even signs of obsolescence of these organisations and institutions. What is important is that these anniversaries remind us of the successful operations of the Council of Europe, the good practices it has developed, as well as the expertise and experience it has gained through the years. Numerous organisations are regularly faced with doubts about their raison d’être and accusations that they exist for their own sake. Further questions about the sense and efficiency of the Council are raised out of concern that the European Union could in fact be its competitor, as well as by the economic crisis that is threatening the Council’s budget.
Personally, I am well acquainted with the operation of the Council of Europe and I sincerely believe that its fundamental values and principles reflect the very essence of the European Union. The Council of Europe is indispensable for the 800 million people it has under its wing. Even if it doesn’t always seem so, the Council is important for all of us. I could not imagine Europe without the Council of Europe. If the economic crisis does raise doubts, it should raise doubts about whether our actions in favour of the most exposed and vulnerable members of society have been and will be adequate and timely.
History is not over. Someone’s past is another one’s present, but the future must belong to all of us. Problems must indeed be taken as challenges that can provide the Council of Europe with a new role. By setting standards in numerous new, advanced fields, the Council makes an invaluable contribution to the shaping of the modern Europe. The consciousness and thinking of people needs to be shaped appropriately, since in democratic systems it is the people themselves who decide on their lives.
We need to keep in mind this vital objective of the Council when questioning its sense and purpose, and confronting crises that are often disheartening when they should rather be encouraging. What is particularly important in this difficult period, is that the Council of Europe should remain unified and committed to its common goals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When assessing past developments – relating to the election of a new Secretary General – and when planning further measures to overcome the problems, the commitment to our common goals must be clear and unconditional. As a former Member of the Parliamentary Assembly I am well aware of your concerns. At the same time, I am convinced that only constructive dialogue with the Committee of Ministers can lead us to our common goal.
The post of Secretary General must be entrusted to the most suitable person who has to be accepted by both Council’s bodies, as only this can increase the efficiency of the organisation as a whole and maintain its relevance in international relations and the international community.
One of the key priorities of the Slovenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers is to encourage the reform of the European Court of Human Rights, a priority Slovenia has taken over from Spain in a rather dynamic moment of adoption of various mechanisms aimed at temporarily increasing the Court’s efficiency. Slovenia is in favour of all measures and activities directed towards this objective and strives for the Court to maintain its leading role in protecting human rights in Europe.
At the highest national levels Slovenia has pledged to take an active part in promoting the Court’s reform and has been actively involved in the Council’s efforts to ensure conditions for the implementation of necessary changes. We have ratified Protocol No. 14 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, agreeing to a provisional application of some of its provisions, and both signed and ratified Protocol No. 14 bis to the Convention.
Slovenia welcomes the fact that Protocol No. 14 bis has already been ratified by three Council’s Member States; this means that it will enter into force on 1 October 2009, thus removing a heavy burden from the Court and enabling greater efficiency of this essential mechanism for ensuring respect of human rights.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In some parts of Europe, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a particularly critical issue. Slovenia has been striving to actively involve the countries of South-Eastern Europe in all fields of our organisation’s work, particularly in the promotion of the Council’s fundamental value. We contribute to the project ‘Our Rights’ in Bosnia–Herzegovina and in Kosovo, and wish to participate in pointing out the situation of national minorities and Roma in this region.
We also wish to further encourage the strengthening of democratic standards and the rule of law in South-Eastern Europe. In this context, Slovenia has been stressing the significance of the fight against human trafficking, corruption and organised crime, in order to bring about a satisfactory situation in this respect, allowing for the winding-up of the Council’s monitoring operations in these countries.
Slovenia sustains the activities implemented in all Member States in the region and aimed at fulfilling the commitments assumed upon their accession to the Council. In Kosovo, we are supporting and carrying out activities that will contribute to an increased respect for the Council of Europe values and standards.
We note with pleasure that Kosovo has included children’s rights learning, embodied in the ‘Our Rights’ project, into its school curricula. In 2009, 32,000 pupils will participate in the project, including representatives of minorities. It would be useful if EULEX could keep watch on the implementation of this part of school curriculum in Kosovo. We hope that in 2009 the Council and its Congress of local and regional authorities will again assist in the realisation of local elections there.
Slovenia supports the Council’s activities in Georgia and welcomes the endeavours of the Commissioner for human rights, the operations of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and other international monitoring missions, as well as the protection of cultural heritage in post-conflict areas.
The release of financial resources intended for the implementation of the Action Plan for Georgia and the Council’s projects there are a significant and encouraging achievement. I am confident that the new activities will help solving the humanitarian crisis and fulfilling commitments of the Russian Federation and Georgia towards the Council of Europe.
Slovenia calls upon the international community to get involved in Georgia, and points out, in this context, that access to post-conflict areas represents the main obstacle there. We plead in favour of a rapid solution of this problem.
At the beginning of June, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Martynov inaugurated an Information Point of the Council of Europe in Minsk. Slovenia is confident that the ‘Info Point’ will be accessible to all Belarusian citizens and that – together with the Belarusian authorities and the civil society there – it will help in the promotion of standards and values of the Council of Europe.
Indeed, the idea of such an office was first voiced in the Parliamentary Assembly, which already years ago expressed its interest in strengthening ties with Belarus. The discussion held here on Tuesday confirmed that such interest was still there, and I am really pleased to note that it is even stronger today than it used to be. Restoring the Special Guest status to Belarus – on the condition of a moratorium on the execution of the death penalty – is an important step forward for both sides.
In its bilateral contacts and in its capacity as the chairing country of the Committee of Ministers, Slovenia will encourage Belarus to abolish the death penalty and continue the democratic reforms.
Slovenia has been acquainted with the situation in Moldova after the elections on 5 April. We are glad that the Council of Europe responded rapidly by the visits of the Commissioner for Human Rights, of the Director General for Democracy and Political Affairs, and of PACE rapporteurs for democracy. In future, Slovenia will continue to sustain an active Council’s role in Moldova, relating both to the recommendations concerning internal control mechanisms for the protection of human rights, as presented by the human rights commissioner, and those concerning democracy and the rule of law, where an important role was played by the Venice Commission.
In view of the upcoming parliamentary elections Slovenia supports the engagement of the Council of Europe and the programmes of pre-electoral assistance in Moldova. We believe that the activities aimed at updating voter lists and promoting media coverage of the electoral campaign will help improving the functioning of democratic institutions in Moldova.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As already mentioned: History is not over. I have just referred to some key areas of Europe, some countries and regions that are a good proof of that; during this week your esteemed assembly has been talking about them, too. I wish that the Europeans would share not only a common continent, but a common future – the one painted by the Council of Europe for the last 60 years.
For many years, the Slovenes were searching for such future. Instead of looking up to the skies, our focus was turned to the West. It is good to have a model, but it is better to be a model. What would be best, certainly, is if none of the countries required any models when talking about protection of human rights, the rule of law and pluralist democracy. Twenty years ago, the falling of the Berlin Wall was a giant step forward, but our goal has not yet been attained. I long for the day when, for every European, ‘east’ and ‘west’ will mean nothing but two points of the compass,
and I believe we have to bear this in mind when discussing the activities of the Council of Europe, the future of the Court of Human Rights, the election of a new Secretary General, or the future image and operation of our organisation.
On its National Day, Slovenia is bound to receive compliments and good wishes; whereas I would like to use this opportunity to again compliment the Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Europe for the activities they undertake and the mission they follow.
Thank you.