Statement by Mrs Kristiina Ojuland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia at the 112th Ministerial Meeting of the Committee of Ministers

Before approaching the topics on the Agenda of our session, I would like to congratulate our Chairman on a most successful chairmanship.

Six months ago, at the 111th session, we indicated that we would support any measure likely to accelerate the proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and, in general, to render the protection of human rights more efficient, both at national and at European level:

We welcome the discussions which have taken place at expert level and also among our Deputies. We note that proposals have been made to further the aims which we all share. It is therefore with satisfaction that we can support the draft Declaration which is before us to-day.

We fully realise the difficulty of the issues facing us. We share the concern expressed in the draft Declaration and, as others, we are also anxious to preserve the uniqueness of the system which has been created under the Convention. But we should bear in mind that the system is unique only as long as it is efficient and credible.

It is on this background that we look forward to more detailed proposals which in due course we shall examine in a constructive spirit.

Also, we approve of the idea of holding, from time to time, top-level meetings of our Heads of State and Government.  There is no denying that the first two summits resulted in significant support for our organisation and provided valuable impetus for its activities.

It is, however, dependant on our prior definition of what we wish to achieve. We must identify the themes, the objectives and the likely follow-up before such a politically important venture is being decided upon. But, as of now, we are of the opinion that the proposals suggested so far are not really appropriate and do not lend themselves to meaningful discussion at summit level. Summits should emphasize what unites us and not subjects which are divisive.

I therefore suggest that before fixing a date and the schedule we should instruct our Deputies to pursue their preparatory activities and that we should return to the matter at a future meeting.

In concluding my remarks I would like to convey to our Moldavian colleague my sincere wishes for his chairmanship.