[Documents/Docheader.htm]Strengthening of the United Nations
Recommendation 1659 (2004)Doc. 10296
2 October 2004Reply from the Committee of Ministers
adopted at the 896th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (22 September 2004)
1. The Committee of Ministers has closely examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1659 (2004), and also Resolution 1373 (2004), on the strengthening of the United Nations. It welcomes the interest shown by the Assembly in the United Nations reform process, and in preparation of the United Nations General Assembly’s biennial debate on cooperation between the United Nations and the regional organisations – including the Council of Europe.
2. The Committee of Ministers has brought these texts to the attention of the governments of the member states, so that they can take due account of the recommendations contained in them, and particularly the wish that they “include members of the Parliamentary Assembly in their delegations to the General Assembly for the biennial debate on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe”.
3. With a view to the next debate on this question, which will take place at the United Nations General Assembly’s 59th session in autumn 2004, and with a view to reaching agreement on a joint position for Council of Europe member states, the Committee of Ministers has prepared, with the help of its Rapporteur on the United Nations, a proposed text for a draft Resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe. The text will be further discussed by the delegations in New York before it is adopted by the General Assembly.
4. Responding to the keen interest shown by the Assembly, the Rapporteur consulted and exchanged information with the Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Relations with Non-Member Countries, and also the Joint Committee at its meetings in April and June 2004.
5. At the Ministers’ Deputies’ 893rd meeting on 13 July 2004, the Committee of Ministers approved the proposed text for the draft Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and asked the Chair to transmit it to the Secretary General of the United Nations. It also decided to send the text to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for information.
6. The Assembly will see that the Committee of Ministers has endeavoured to incorporate most of the proposals made in Recommendation 1659 (2004) in the draft Resolution. It has also included in the text a specific mandate for the two Secretaries General, implementation of which should both highlight the Council of Europe’s potential and open the way to new fields and forms of cooperation, particularly with a view to the Third Summit of the Council of Europe.