Welcome my Dear friends and all ISUM 2007 participants,

The Council of Europe is an inter – governmental organization consisted of 47 member states in the European region All European states have acceded to the Council of Europe, with the exception of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Observer Status with the Council of Europe has Canada, Japan, Mexico, the USA and the Holy See as well as the parliaments of Canada, Israel and Mexico have represented by itsembly. NGOs can participate in the INGO Conference of CoE. Oweral conventions of the Council of Europe have also been signed by non-European states, for example the Convention on Cybercrime, the Anti-Doping Convention and the Bern Convention for the Protection of Natural Habitats.Its most enduring legacy is the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1950, which serves as the basis for the European Court of Human Rights. English and French are its two official languages, but its Committee of Ministers and its Parliamentary Assembly also work in German, Italian and Russian.The seat of the Council of Europe is in Strasbourg on the Franco-German border. Originally meeting in Strasbourg's University Palace, it is now domiciled in the Palace of Europe about two kilometres from city centre. Membership is open to all European democracies which accept the principle of the rule of law and are able and willing to guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms.The Council of Europe should not be confused with the Council of the European Union or the European Council, as it is a separate organization and not part of the European Union which, however, adopted the same European flag and anthem.

L I N K S:

Official home page of CoE:
http://www.coe.int/


Serbian Presidency of CoE
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/coe


Photos:
http://multimedia.coe.int/coe/niveau3.pgi?TY=BG&ID=6&CH=404

10 Things That You Need To Know About CoE:

1. The Council of Europe has a genuine pan-European dimension;

2. CoE is founded in 1949;

3. It is founded to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law;

4. It is settled in Strassbourg, city of massive destrucion between France and Germany in 2 wars; Nowadays, a simbol of European Unity and French - German friendship;

5. If your human rights are violated you can submit a charge at Human Rights Building / Palais des Droits de l'Homme if your country is a member of the CoE;

6. Young people of Europe is the CoE priority;

7. CoE Supports NGO activities and run an uniqiue NGO register;

8. Regular meeting are held at least twice a year of the heads of state or government from the member states of the European Union for the purpose of planning Union policy.

9. Council of Europe patronate the lives of 800 000 000 Europeans;

10. If you want to meet European Diplomat in Strassbourg take bus No. 9. Dont expect "Mercedeses S500" and huge delegation ceremonies :)