FOR THE ATTENTION OF MEMBERS OF THE POLITICAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Office of the Clerk
Synopsis N°2000/003
14 January 2000
The Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris on 11 January 2000 under the Chairmanship of Mr Ruffy (Switzerland, SOC):
As regards:
Conflict in Chechnya (Rapporteur: Lord Judd, United Kingdom, SOC): held a discussion with a view to preparing the forthcoming visit of a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly to Moscow and North Caucasus (16-20 January 2000) as well as an urgent procedure debate during the January 2000 part-session (subject to the Assemblys decision);
European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Georges Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR): discussed and approved a draft opinion;
South-East Europe following the Kosovo conflict: political situation (Rapporteurs: Mr András Bársony, Hungary, SOC and Mr Peter Bloetzer, Switzerland, EPP/CD): discussed the follow-up for the "Conference on the parliamentary contribution to the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe" (Sofia, Bulgaria, 25-26 November 1999) and approved the proposals to be submitted to the Bureau in this respect;
Requests for Council of Europe membership:
. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Rapporteur: Mr Peter Bloetzer, Switzerland, EPP/CD): examined a preliminary draft report and decided (subject to the Bureaus authorisation) to hold an exchange of views with Mr Klein, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday 24 January 2000 at 7 pm in Strasbourg;
. Azerbaijan (Rapporteur: Mr Jacques Baumel, France, EDG): heard a statement by the rapporteur on his visit to Baku, together with the Chairman and the rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, from 6 to 9 December 1999;
Drafting of a standard code of practice in electoral matter and establishment of a permanent European control body (Rapporteur: Mr Georges Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR): considered an outline report;
Relations with Algeria: asked its Sub-committee on relations with non-member countries to discuss the preparation of an exchange of views with a delegation from the Algerian parliament during the April part-session of the Assembly;
Relations with the United Nations: heard a statement by the Chairman of the sub-committee on relations with non-member countries on the meeting held on the occasion of the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 25-27 October 1999) and asked this sub-committee to discuss a follow-up to this meeting;
Parliamentary co-operation of the South-Caucasian countries: heard a statement by its Chairman on the meetings of the working groups on the implementation of human rights legislation (legal framework for police activities) and on prisoners-of-wars held on 17 December 1999 in Paris, and took note of the conclusions of these meetings;
Appointment of rapporteurs:
. Role of the Council of Europe in relation to defence and security issues: Mr Franciszek Adamczyk (Poland, EPP/CD);
. Financing of political parties: Ms Vlasta Stepová (Czech Republic, SOC);
Next meetings: decided to hold its next meetings as follows:
Plenary Committee:
. Strasbourg, during the first 2000 part-session of the Assembly (24-28 January 2000)
Sub-committee on relations with non-member countries:
. Strasbourg, during the first 2000 part-session of the Assembly (24-28 January 2000)
Petr Sich