Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

High level conference concludes Albanian Chairmanship

Strasbourg, 08.11.2012 - "Diversity in Europe: a Strength for the Future" – the title of the high level conference in Tirana on 9 November – summarises the concept that has guided Council of Europe activities since Albania took over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers in May. The conference will focus on dialogue with Mediterranean neighbours and the promotion of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, through education to democratic citizenship values.

Following a welcome speech by Edmond Panariti, Albanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Bujar Nishani, President of the Republic of Albania, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Jorge Sampaio, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations will address the inaugural session of the Conference.

The Conference will be followed by a meeting for the handover of the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers to Andorra.

Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Panariti, Andorran Foreign Minister and incoming Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Gilbert Saboya, and Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni will hold a press conference at 19:15, at the Hotel Sheraton Tirana. (more...)

Back 30.05.2012 - Declaration of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers on the recent massacres in Syria

30.05.2012 - Mr Edmond Haxhinasto, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, expresses his indignation at the massacres committed in Syria, especially in the city of Houla, where over 90 people were killed, many of whom were children.

He aligns himself with the position of the UN Security Council in condemning these appalling events, which clearly show the disregard in which the Syrian regime holds the six point plan devised by the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Mr Kofi Annan.

The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers urges the Syrian authorities to put an immediate end to military actions against the civil population, to withdraw the army and to allow the UN observers to complete their mission without any hindrance. He expresses his solidarity with the Syrian people and recalls that it is the duty of a government to protect its population.