Bulgaria Assumes Council of Europe Chairmanship from Bosnia-Herzegovina

Politics » DIPLOMACY | November 10, 2015, Tuesday // 15:32
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Assumes Council of Europe Chairmanship from Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov (L) and his Bosnian counterpart Igor Crnadak. Photo: Website of Council of Europe

Bulgaria assumed on Tuesday the rotating Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This occurred at a meeting attended by representatives of the organisation's 47 member states at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg.

The meeting was attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and his Bosnian counterpart Igor Crnadak.

Before handing over the chairmanship, the outgoing Chair Crnadak presented an overview of the achievements during his country's chairmanship.

The new chair Mitov presented the priorities of the Bulgarian chairmanship, which will run for six months from November 10 to May 2016.

Back in October, Mitov had identified several priorities for the Bulgarian chairmanship, among which: strengthening the protection of the rights of the child and facilitating young people's access to culture; protecting media from external influence; protecting vulnerable groups.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland commended Crnadak for his country's successful chairmanship during a challenging period for Europe, which has been faced with an unprecedented refugee crisis and the threat of terrorism.

Jagland highlighted the importance of the Additional Protocol on foreign fighters to the Convention of the Prevention of Terrorism, which was opened for signature during the Bosnian chairmanship.

Mitov is expected to sign the convention on behalf of Bulgaria, the website of the foreign ministry informs.

Crnadak noted that the chairmanship had a positive impact on the country's process of European integration and the promotion of European values.

This will be the second time Bulgaria chairs the rotating presidency since the country joined the Council of Europe on 7 may 1992.

The first Bulgarian chairmanship occurred in the period between May and November 1994.

An exhibition entitled "Thracian tombs - world cultural heritage" will be unveiled at the Council of Europe on the occasion of Bulgaria assuming the chairmanship.

 

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Tags: Bulgaria, Council of Europe, chairmanship, Committee of Ministers, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Daniel Mitov, Igor Crnadak, Thorbjorn Jagland, refugee crisis, terrorism

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