Mr Chairman,

Mr Secretary General,

Colleagues,

• Firstly, on human rights – the human rights protection system established by the European Convention on Human Rights is unique both in Europe and in the whole world. The European Court of Human Rights is a guardian of sustainability and long-term effectiveness of this system. Therefore, all member states shall spare no effort to provide the Court with all means necessary – starting with the effective domestic remedies to appropriate reform arrangements at European level – to ensure the effective fulfilment of its functions. Protocol 14 was deemed to be both a starting point and an important contribution to the implementation of the reform package aimed at steady reduction of the Court's caseload. It is deplorable that despite numerous calls by the Committee of Ministers Protocol 14 has not yet entered into force. Respecting the solidarity between all member states and the legitimate expectation of 800 million European citizens to see that justice is rendered to them in the most effective way, I express the strongest hope that the sole outstanding ratification will be made as soon as possible.
• Secondly, I welcome a significant contribution of the Council of Europe to the consolidation of democracy, promotion of the rule of law and human rights in the countries of Eastern Europe and South Caucasus. In this context, I also welcome the recent statement by the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers on the conflicts in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These issues must remain high on the agenda of this organization since the situation is very worrying and security goes hand in hand with democracy, rule of law and human rights.
• Thirdly, the membership of our organization is still unfortunately not complete. Bearing in mind the objective to see Belarus among the family of the European States sharing the same values and standards, we shall continue to support civil society and independent media in Belarus and to raise awareness of Council of Europe standards among the Belarussian people. Unfortunately situation in Belarus recently has not improved. We hope that the parliamentary elections this fall will bring positive developments in this regard. 
• Mr. Chairman, In line with the Warsaw Summit decisions, the Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including Domestic Violence was launched in 2006 and will conclude in June this year. A decision shall be made on appropriate follow-up to this Campaign. In my opinion, the most appropriate solution in this regard would be a decision to draft a new comprehensive Convention to prevent and combat violence against women. I would like to call on all member states to support such a proposal.
• Finally, in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue the Council of Europe has made two major contributions to international efforts of fostering intercultural dialogue and its religious dimension – launching "White Paper on Intercultural dialogue" and held the first experimental Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue. This event was a success – both as regards participants and the quality of discussion – and therefore should be continued.
• At the end Minister Kubiš let me thank You for your work as the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers for the last six month and I wish all the success to the incoming Swedish Chairman Mr Carl Bildt.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.