Open news feed Close news feed
A A

MONACO BECOMES THE 46TH COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEMBER STATE

Politics

The ceremony for the accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Council of Europe took place this afternoon in Strasbourg, and was welcomed by the leaders of the Organisation.

The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, said: "With the accession of Monaco, the Council of Europe is closer than ever to the goal set up by its first Summit, in Vienna in 1993: to bring together, on an equal footing and in permanent structures, all European democratic countries. The Third Summit, in Warsaw next year, will give us the opportunity to celebrate Europe's unity".

After signing the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, Prince Albert read a few lines of a written message from Prince Rainier of Monaco: "The admission of the Principality of Monaco to the Council of Europe is an object of legitimate satisfaction and pride to me personally as it is to all my compatriots.

"I am glad that Monaco is accepted as part of an Organisation actuated by such high aspirations, enriched by the diversity of the peoples whom it represents", he added.