MINELRES: CoE FCNM: Opinions on Lithuania, Montenegro and Switzerland adopted; AC visits Albania

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Original sender: Nicola Markes-Goerlach <Nicola.Markes-Goerlach@coe.int>


The Advisory Committee adopts Opinions on Lithuania, Montenegro and
Switzerland

Strasbourg 03.03.2008 - The Advisory Committee on the Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities adopted three
country-specific opinions last week under the first and second cycles of
monitoring the implementation of this convention in States Parties. 

The opinions on Lithuania and Montenegro were adopted on 28 February,
and the opinion on Switzerland was adopted on 29 February 2008. 

These three opinions will now be submitted to the Committee of
Ministers, which is to adopt conclusions and recommendations.


National Minorities in Albania : visit of the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities

Strasbourg 03.03.2008 - A delegation of the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) is
visiting Albania this week from 3-7 March 2008 in the context of the
monitoring of the implementation of the Framework Convention by this
country. In addition to Tirana, the delegation will visit Korce and
Elbasan. 

This is the second visit of the Advisory Committee to Albania. The
objective is to evaluate the progress made by Albania in implementing
the Framework Convention and in particular, to take stock of the
legislative and policy measures taken by the authorities to follow-up on
the recommendations of the Advisory Committee in its first Opinion.

The Delegation will be having meetings with the representatives of all
relevant ministries, as well as with the Parliament, the Ombudsman
Office and other institutions. In addition to contacts with public
officials, the Delegation will also meet persons belonging to national
minorities and Human Rights NGOs.  

The delegation visiting Albania includes Ms Eva Smith-Asmussen (member
elected in respect of Denmark), Mr Francesco Palermo (member elected in
respect of Italy) and Ms Bohumila Ferencuhova (member elected in respect
of the Slovak Republic). They will be accompanied by Ms Stephanie Marsal
from the Secretariat. 

Note: Albania submitted its second State Report under the Framework
Convention in May 2007. Following its visit, the Advisory Committee will
adopt its own report (called Opinion) in May 2008, which will be sent to
the Albanian Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations in
respect of Albania.

Contact: Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities, Strasbourg (France), www.coe.int/minorities, tel
+33 (0)3 90 21 44 33


Nicola Markes-Goerlach
Council of Europe 
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs 
Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities 
F-67075
Strasbourg-Cedex

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