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26 June 1992
Doc. 6640
REQUEST FOR AN OPINION
FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO THE ASSEMBLY
on the accession of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe
Letter from the Chairman of the Ministers' Deputies
to the President of the Assembly dated 25 June 1992
Sir,
I have the honour to send you herewith Resolution (92)27 on the Russian Federation which was adopted by the Committee of Ministers at the 478th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies.
The Committee of Ministers looks forward to discussing with representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly in the course of the Joint Committee in Budapest on 1 July 1992 how the two organs can co-operate in handling this and future applications.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
Signed: Sönmez KÖKSAL
Chairman of the Ministers' Deputies
RESOLUTION (92)27
ON THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 25 June 1992
at the Ministers' Deputies' 478th meeting)
The Committee of Ministers,
Recalling its decision, taken at its 8th Session in May 1951, to consult the Parliamentary Assembly before inviting a State to become a member or associate member of the Council of Europe in accordance with the provisions of the Statute;
Considering that the Government of the Russian Federation has expressed, in its letter of 6 May 1992 to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the wish to be invited to join the Council of Europe, and has declared itself willing to respect the principles laid down in Article 3 of the Statute;
Having taken note with satisfaction of the Russian Federation's interest in joining the Organisation;
Invites the Parliamentary Assembly to state its opinion on this matter and brings the following considerations to the attention of the Assembly at this stage:
First of all, the Committee of Ministers wishes to inform the Assembly that there is consensus among its members in favour of the Russian Federation's joining the Organisation as soon as the conditions laid down in the Statute, ie implementation of the principles of pluralist parliamentary democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, have been satisfied. This implies that the legislative and judicial systems of the Federation as well as its component entities would have to conform to the principles of the Rule of Law.
In the course of his exchange of views with the Ministers attending the Committee of Ministers' 90th Session on 7 May 1992, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation indicated that Russia would be prepared, like any other State joining the Organisation, to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers took note with satisfaction of this intention and also of the willingness of the Russian Government to recognise the right of individual petition and the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. The Russian Federation would thus have to give effect to the obligations under the Convention throughout the whole of its territory at the various levels of the administration.
Bearing in mind the country's size and the diversity of its cultural and administrative traditions, the Committee of Ministers shares the view expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation during the exchange of views on 7 May 1992 that it will take time to translate theoretical freedoms into actual practice, and more especially to improve conditions for their respect in Russian administration and society.
The Committee of Ministers accordingly affirms its willingness to deepen its dialogue with the Russian authorities and intensify the support provided through its co-operation and assistance programmes, with a view to facilitating and accelerating the Russian Federation's transition to democracy, and enabling it to join the Council of Europe as soon as possible.