7 May 1992

Doc. 6613

1403-7/5/92-7-E

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 344

by Mr WORMS

on the rights of minorities

Mr WORMS,

1.       Drawing attention to the Parliamentary Assembly's recommendations and its keen interest in the protection of the rights of minorities in Europe;

2.       Having examined the various passages on the protection of minorities in the Statutory Report of the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly (Doc. 6602);

3.       Fearing that the holding of a major CSCE conference will, once again, be used by the Council of Europe as an excuse for shelving the minorities' file;

To ask the Committee of Ministers:

i.       Why the protection of the rights of minorities was not included in the agenda for the 90th session (7 May 1992) of the Committee of Ministers, as was apparently planned (see Statutory Report, page 19);

ii.       What the outcome of the various meetings mentioned in the Statutory Report was;

iii.       When it is planning to adopt the European Charter on regional or minority languages.

Signed: WORMS