Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 8 July 1968 (see Doc. 2412, report of the Political Committee).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that a strengthening of the links between the Council of Europe and the United Nations would be consonant with the aims and spirit of the Statute, and might moreover enable the member states to make a distinctively European contribution to the work of the World Organisation, thus responding to the appeal made by the Secretary General of the United Nations at Strasbourg in May 1966 ;
2. Believing that exchange of information on a multilateral basis between delegations from member countries of the Council of Europe to the United Nations will enable them to intensify their efforts, in the general interest as well as in that of each country ;
3. Observing that the experience gained in the application of Resolution (54) 16 of the Committee of Ministers has shown that such multilateral contacts can be effective only if they take place on the spot in New York ;
4. Considering that the occasional contacts made by parliamentarians and by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe at United Nations Headquarters are certainly useful but do not eliminate the need for more continuous action within the United Nations,
5. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
a instruct its Chairman to ensure the Council of Europe's representation at New York throughout sessions ;
b instruct its Chairman to convene meetings of the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of the member states of the Council of Europe, during the periods of the General Assembly ;
c instruct the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to arrange to be represented at least during sessions of the General Assembly by a Secretariat official who, besides providing liaison with the Secretary General of the United Nations, would be available to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the performance of his duties at the United Nations.
