Doc. 8377

14 April 1999

Application of Mexico for observer status

Request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers

Letter from the Chairman of the Ministers’ Deputies to the President of the Assembly, dated 9 April 1999

Dear President,

      Today, at their 667^th meeting, the Deputies decided to request the opinion of the Parliamentary Assembly on the application of Mexico for observer status with the Council of Europe, in accordance with Statutory Resolution (93) 26.

      I enclose a copy of the application letter (courtesy translation), dated 7 December 1998, from Mrs Rosario Green, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico.

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Signed:

János Perényi,

Chairman of the Ministers' Deputies

Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, dated 7 December 1998

Mr Daniel Tarschys,

General Secretary,

Council of Europe

Dear Secretary General,

      During the last years, the Government of Mexico has followed a policy towards the strengthening of its bonds with the Council of Europe.

As a result of Mexico's entrance to the OECD, and as a founder partner of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we have participated actively and with the highest interest in the Parliamentary Assembly's special sessions on the evaluation of both bodies' activities. We have obtained an enriching experience from our presence in these meetings, as well as from the participation of Mexican officials in such relevant Forums as the Commission for Democracy through Law, the Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption and the North-South Centre for Interdependence and Global Solidarity.

      As a result of the above, since 1996 the Mexican Government has decided to intensify its rapprochement policy towards the Council of Europe. This has led us to request an observer status for Mexico in several committees. This request received broad support from the Council's member states, which concluded last September with the acceptance of Mexico as an observer in the following committees: Legal Advisors on International Public Law; Experts on Higher Education and Research; and on Culture.

      The Government of Mexico recognises the important task carried out by the Council of Europe to support the transition to democracy of the central European countries and of the former Soviet Union. We also observe with great interest the huge work done by the organisation to achieve multilateral legislation in fields as important as human rights, democratic processes, education and culture.

      For these reasons, I wish to express hereby the Government of Mexico's interest to substantially increase its participation in the Council of Europe's work. In this sense, I would be obliged if you could pass on to the Council of Europe member states the Government of Mexico's formal request to attain observer status to the Committee of Ministers. We are fully aware of the engagement and obligations this status implies and I wish to express our firm intention to comply thoroughly with them.

      I fully believe that closer work between Mexico and the Council of Europe will consolidate the efforts of my country's government to strengthen the relations with all and each one of the European countries. In its turn, our active participation will allow us to further strengthen the deep democratic reform process that Mexico has undertaken these last years.

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Signed:

The Minister

Emb. Rosario Green