NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor attends the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Strasbourg

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor, today attended the meeting of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, and addressed its members. In the light of the landmark anniversary celebrated by Slovenia today, the Prime Minister stressed that "the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has indeed been an excellent platform for learning democracy and the years of Slovenia’s membership have significantly influenced Slovenia’s development and position today."
 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
The Prime Minister went on to highlight the importance of the Council of Europe and its fundamental values and principles, forming the foundation on which the European Union had been built. The Council of Europe is important for each and every European Union citizen. "I could not imagine Europe without the Council of Europe," said Mr Pahor. He devoted special attention to constructive dialogue between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers in seeking a common solution related to the appointment of a new Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. "The new Secretary-General must enjoy the support of both Council of Europe bodies, as this will contribute to the effectiveness of the entire organisation and maintain its important position in international relations and in the international community," stressed the Prime Minister. At the end of his address, Mr Pahor expressed his wish to see "Europeans share not only the continent but also a common future ¬– of the kind portrayed by the Council of Europe for the past 60 years."
 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
The Prime Minister also held a meeting with the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Lluís Maria de Puig. In a relaxed atmosphere, they exchanged experience and positions on key topics for the Council of Europe and on the activities within Slovenia’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. Mr Pahor acquainted Mr de Puig with his experience as chairman of the Slovenian delegation in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, and said he believed that, during its chairmanship, Slovenia would meet the expectations of the member states and of the Secretariat. The Prime Minister  then met the Secretary-General, Terry Davies and their talks focused on dialogue between the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly in the process of electing a new Secretary-General. Mr Pahor also met with the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, and visited the European Court of Human Rights, where he held a brief meeting with its President, Jean-Paul Costa.