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Ref. DC 070(2017) 17.05.2017 Victims of terrorism and refugees on agenda as Committee of Ministers meets in Cyprus Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states will meet in Nicosia (Cyprus) on 19 May. Agenda highlights include a new convention against trafficking of cultural property (including by terrorists who are financed by such trafficking), innovative guidelines to protect terror victims, and an action plan to protect refugee and migrant children. The session, to be chaired by Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister and Committee of Ministers Chairman Ioannis Kasoulides, begins at 9.30 am at the Filoxenia Conference Centre (17 Thrakis Street, Nicosia). Nicos Anastasiades, President of Cyprus, will open the session. The Council of Europe’s Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property – the only international treaty specifically dealing with the criminalisation of illicit trafficking of cultural property, such as the plundering of Palmyra by Daesh – will be open for signature at the session. New guidelines to improve support, information and compensation provided to victims of terrorist attacks in all 47 member states will be adopted. They provide for various free of charge measures to be taken by member states, including emergency assistance, medical, psychological and social help; information points for victims, access to justice and timely compensation. The Committee of Ministers is also set to adopt an Action Plan on Protecting Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe. Other items on the agenda : · The Secretary General’s report on the state of democracy, human rights and rule of law in Europe · Conflicts and crises in Europe: the role of the Council of Europe · Long-term effectiveness of the system of the European Convention on Human Rights · Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring regions · Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union Minister Kasoulides will take stock of Cyprus’s chairmanship over the past six months and make a handover to Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek, who will present priorities of his country’s chairmanship. Media access Although session discussions are closed, accredited media can attend a group photo at 9 am and the opening for signature of the cultural property convention, just before discussions begin. A press briefing with Ministers Kasoulides and Zaorálek, and Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, will be held at about 3 pm. Photographers and cameramen can attend the opening of the session and the handover of the chairmanship (at about 3:30 pm). Interviews for media can be organised on the spot. Accreditation Media wishing to cover the event should be accredited in advance. Accreditation can be requested by filling this form. Accredited media representatives can obtain their name badges on Thursday 18 May between 10 am and noon and on the day of the session, 19 May at the Filoxenia Conference Centre. Press contacts Council of Europe : Daniel Höltgen, Spokesperson of the Secretary General, Tel. +33 6 68 29 87 51 Panos Kakaviatos, Spokesperson/Media officer, +33 6 98 37 64 04 Cypriot Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Aphrodite Gregoriou, Press and Communication Department Tel. +357 22 651 278 |
