Foreign Minister Bjørn Tore Godal

Council of Europe
98th Session of the Committee of Ministers

3 May 1996

Item 2. Democratic Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region; implementation of the Peace Agreements and role and responsibilities of the Council of Europe.

Mr Chairman,

I am grateful to my distinguished Swiss colleague for his illuminating introduction. As he stated, the Council of Europe has concrete and important tasks under the Dayton agreements, particularly in connection with human rights. I am pleased to note that the Council has given this responsibility due priority. A satisfactory legal framework and effective instruments to ensure the respect of human right are essential preconditions for the restoration of peace as well as for economic reconstruction in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The character and experience of the Council of Europe qualifies it to make a unique contribution to the rebuilding of civil society in this tragically ravaged country.

Norway is actively involved in the implementation of the Dayton accord. Our total financial contribution to OSCE-related activities will probably amount to nearly five million USD, and we have committed 35 policemen for the implementation in Eastern Slavonia, in addition to the about 1000 troops who constitute the Norwegian contribution to IFOR, as well as a number of observers. A part of our contribution has been allocated for the staffing of the Human Rights ombudsperson. Our financial contribution to humanitarian assistance in former Yugoslavia since the outbreak of the conflict until the end of this year amounts to USD 225 million, including the Council of Europe's activities as a follow-up of the Dayton-agreements .

The international community must be committed to a long-term contribution in order to achieve a lasting peace in Bosnia. I believe also the Council of Europe must be prepared to stay actively involved in the region, especially since membership of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia is on the agenda. I need not say that this will be a formidable challenge.

Item 3. Adaptation of the Organisation to meet the new challenges.

Mr. Chairman,

Thank you for your thoughtful and stimulating introduction. Since the beginning of 1993 the membership of the Council has increased from 26 to 39, in other words by fifty percent. In my opinion, this calls for growth in real terms in the budget of the Council. In particular, a strengthening of the secretariat and of the control system of the Human Rights Convention is necessary if the organisation shall be able to develop democratic security in all parts of our continent in accordance with the goals set by the Vienna summit in 1993 and with the expectations in the new member countries.

I agree with you Mr. Chairman, that an increase in transparency is necessary for setting the right priorities and for obtaining support from member Governments for an increase in the Council's budget.

Based on a proposal by the Norwegian Prime Minister, Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland and her then Dutch colleague, Mr Ruud Lubbers, at the Vienna Summit in October 1993 a cooperative and non-discriminatory system for monitoring member states' compliance with membership commitments has been launched. It is important for the credibility of the Organisation that this mechanism is implemented effectively. In this regard, I am pleased that a monitoring unit will be established at the Office of the Secretary General, and it is important that this unit must be given adequate resources in the future.

Norway has for a long time stressed the urgent need for reform of the control system of the European Convention on Human Rights. The very length of proceedings in human rights cases is already unacceptable, and the enlargement of the Council in recent years, though most welcome, has accentuated the need for reform.

For this reason, I am glad that the process of ratification of Protocol No 11 to the Convention is well under way, and I urge those States Parties which have not yet done so, to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible, and at the latest by the end of this year.

However, the primary responsibility for ensuring respect for human rights of course lies with our respective mmber States. In order to uphold the high standards and to avoid overburdening also the new mechanism, we must all strive, at the domestic level and through mutual assistance, to improve the implementation of our obligations under the Convention.

In this regard, the Council of Europe's cooperation and assistance with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe should be strengthened, especially to take account of Russia's membership and in order to help implement the standards of the Human Rights Convention. In my opinion, this should be a primary objective of the Council in the next few years.

The European Youth Campaign has given new impetus to the fight against racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance. I am pleased that the declaration, which we shall adopt under item 4 of the agenda, gives guidelines for a follow-up of this important work on a national and European basis. Even if we from a Norwegian point of view had wished a more specific text, we hope the Council will give the necessary priority to practical measures in continuing the struggle against racism and intolerance.

Norway has always held the position that the youth field should have a high priority in the work of the Council of Europe. Through its close cooperation with international and national youth organisations, the Council has a unique position among international governmental organisations. I experienced personally the importance of international youth cooperation when I was President of the Council of European National Youth Committees at the time of the establishment of the European Youth Centre and the European Youth Foundation in the early seventies. I am very happy to see the opening of another Youth Centre in Budapest and hope that the Council of Europe will continue its emphasis on educational and political work in the youth field.