Summit leaders to focus on European unity

Date: 02/10/1997

By Rory Watson

AN HISTORIC summit in Strasbourg next weekend will provide a unique opportunity for 40 heads of government representing 800 million people to set out a strategy for tackling some of the major challenges facing Europe on the eve of the 21st century.

The summit, organised by the Council of Europe, is only the second in the pan-European institution's 48-year history and the first since Russia and Ukraine became full members of the body which acts as one of the leading guarantors of human rights on the continent.

The aim of the two-day meeting on 10-11 October, hosted by French President Jacques Chirac, is to draw up a four-point action plan to update the mission statement and priorities laid down at the Council's first summit in Vienna exactly four years ago. “The summit will bring together leaders of all European democracies. To avoid new divisions in our continent, we must strengthen our common action in favour of democratic stability,” explained Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys.

Outlining the aims of the summit last week, France's European Affairs Minister Pierre Moscovici warned that greater social cohesion was imperative in order “to avoid the social cleavage in our societies becoming a threat to democracy and to ensure that the ideological division of Europe is not succeeded by an economic and social frontier”.

He said this would be complemented by a new emphasis on fighting international crime and terrorism, and on combating dangers threatening children and young people.

As the Council of Europe approaches its golden jubilee in two years' time, the summit is expected to endorse a further evolution in its activities to promote democracy and human rights.

The action plan will include a commitment to establishing a permanent court of human rights, prohibiting human cloning, introducing stronger measures against racism and intolerance, and promoting the protection of national minorities.

“Pluralism, the rule of law and respect for human rights are cardinal conditions for peace and prosperity. That is why we must set up a new court of human rights. That is why we must promote basic social standards. That is why we must strengthen minority rights,” said Tarschys.

In addition to the leaders of 40 Council of Europe member countries, including Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the summit will bring together leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia, all of whom have already lodged applications for membership.

The Council's last summit in Vienna was billed as the 'enlargement summit' as leaders from west and east Europe met for the first time after the lifting of the Iron Curtain. This time around, the focus is on European unity into the next millennium.