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Monday, 12 April 2010
"Macedonian Chairmanship 2010" is the name under which Macedonia will preside over the Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers as of May 2010, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Milososki informed Monday after meeting with CoE Secretary General Thorbjřrn Jagland, who is paying a two-day visit to Macedonia.
It was noted that the Council of Europe will respect the position of Macedonia's Government the term "Macedonian Chairmanship 2010" to be in English translation.
According to FM Milososki, reactions from Greece are expected.
- Macedonia's six-month chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers will be recognisable for the reforms, priorities, conferences and achievements. We can do this together with other member countries, including Greece, Milososki stated amongst other things. He said he was convinced that if both countries - Macedonia and Greece - acted in a pragmatic fashion, Macedonia would be able through its CoE chairmanship to demonstrate that the region of SEE could increasingly contribute to CoE priorities.
- I'm not in charge of permitting someone to use this or that name. I have to stick to the decisions reached by the organisation I am heading, said Jagland. When asked why he kept avoiding to say the name of the country - Macedonia, and whether it was hard to pronounce "Macedonian chairmanship", CoE chief Jagland responded: "Yes and no".
- I'm aware of the sensitivity of this issue. I hope that it will not overshadow other very important issues that need to be raised in the Council of Europe, Jagland said.
The rule of law, raising the level of instruments for implementation of decisions related to human rights, social inclusion of all marginalised groups in several European countries, stirring debate on their social, religious, ethnic or political diversities and launching processes for greater inclusion of the younger generation in social and political trends in democratic societies, in all CoE member countries with a focus on the issue of Roma people. These are the priorities of Macedonia in the course of its chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers, due to be taken over from Switzerland.
CoE chief Thorbjřrn Jagland stressed that Macedonia in "this exceptionally important period" would chair with CoE successfully, taking into account "the credibility of the country based on its ongoing reforms".
He said Macedonia would hold the chairmanship in a key period - the third stage of CoE development, which kicks off with the enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty. The Council of Europe has undergone two important phases of its development - in 1949 when the organisation was established and the European Convention on Human Rights was adopted. The second stage started after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In addition to meeting with FM Milososki, Thorbjřrn Jagland in Skopje will meet with President Gjorge Ivanov, PM Nikola Gruevski and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski as well. The CoE Secretary General is also scheduled to deliver a lecture at the faculty of law within the Skopje University.
Macedonia's readiness to take over the chairmanship of the oldest international organisation in Europe will be underlined at the meetings. Focus will be put as well on political issues that are expected to be the focal point during the chairmanship, both of Macedonia and CoE's interest.
Monday, 12 April 2010
"Macedonian Chairmanship 2010" is the name under which Macedonia will preside over the Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers as of May 2010, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Milososki informed Monday after meeting with CoE Secretary General Thorbjřrn Jagland, who is paying a two-day visit to Macedonia.
It was noted that the Council of Europe will respect the position of Macedonia's Government the term "Macedonian Chairmanship 2010" to be in English translation.
According to FM Milososki, reactions from Greece are expected.
- Macedonia's six-month chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers will be recognisable for the reforms, priorities, conferences and achievements. We can do this together with other member countries, including Greece, Milososki stated amongst other things. He said he was convinced that if both countries - Macedonia and Greece - acted in a pragmatic fashion, Macedonia would be able through its CoE chairmanship to demonstrate that the region of SEE could increasingly contribute to CoE priorities.
- I'm not in charge of permitting someone to use this or that name. I have to stick to the decisions reached by the organisation I am heading, said Jagland. When asked why he kept avoiding to say the name of the country - Macedonia, and whether it was hard to pronounce "Macedonian chairmanship", CoE chief Jagland responded: "Yes and no".
- I'm aware of the sensitivity of this issue. I hope that it will not overshadow other very important issues that need to be raised in the Council of Europe, Jagland said.
The rule of law, raising the level of instruments for implementation of decisions related to human rights, social inclusion of all marginalised groups in several European countries, stirring debate on their social, religious, ethnic or political diversities and launching processes for greater inclusion of the younger generation in social and political trends in democratic societies, in all CoE member countries with a focus on the issue of Roma people. These are the priorities of Macedonia in the course of its chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers, due to be taken over from Switzerland.
CoE chief Thorbjřrn Jagland stressed that Macedonia in "this exceptionally important period" would chair with CoE successfully, taking into account "the credibility of the country based on its ongoing reforms".
He said Macedonia would hold the chairmanship in a key period - the third stage of CoE development, which kicks off with the enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty. The Council of Europe has undergone two important phases of its development - in 1949 when the organisation was established and the European Convention on Human Rights was adopted. The second stage started after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In addition to meeting with FM Milososki, Thorbjřrn Jagland in Skopje will meet with President Gjorge Ivanov, PM Nikola Gruevski and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski as well. The CoE Secretary General is also scheduled to deliver a lecture at the faculty of law within the Skopje University.
Macedonia's readiness to take over the chairmanship of the oldest international organisation in Europe will be underlined at the meetings. Focus will be put as well on political issues that are expected to be the focal point during the chairmanship, both of Macedonia and CoE's interest.
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