Crnadak: Our continent needs the Council of Europe and its values

(Patria) - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe, gave the following statement which will be forwarded to the Secretariat of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg via the Permanent Mission of BiH to the CoE.

The Council of Europe is celebrating its seventieth birthday. This is an opportunity to once again emphasize the exceptionally important role of the Council of Europe in strengthening and promoting democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law on our continent.

It is precisely thanks to the Council of Europe that 830 million Europeans have the opportunity to directly address the European Court of Human Rights. The unique system of conventions with 225 international multilateral agreements, for which the Council of Europe is the depositary and which practically cover all spheres of life, establishes unique legal standards for 47 member states.
Today, more than ever, our continent needs the Council of Europe and its values. A strong and active Council of Europe is the best guarantee that Europe is ready to effectively face today's challenges and seek solutions that will be in the best interest of its citizens,” the statement reads.

On the occasion of the Council of Europe's anniversary, Minister Crnadak also announced that the failure to reach an agreement in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH on the composition of the delegation for participation in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has caused enormous damage to the international reputation of BiH.

“At the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe next week in Helsinki, among other things, I will emphasize the importance that this organization has for BiH. I will also remind that BiH will continue to participate in the work of other bodies of the Council of Europe in the coming period, in order to, at least partially, mitigate the consequences of missing the deadline for appointing the parliamentary delegation,” it is stated.