05/04/2013 President
Strasbourg, 05.04.2013 – “With its culture of tolerance and dialogue and its long tradition of efforts to advance the cause of peace, Norway can do a lot to help the Council of Europe to defend and promote its values in countries where democracy and human rights are under threat,” said Jean-Claude Mignon today at the end of his official visit to Norway.
He praised the active role the country had played in the Council of Europe since its establishment, including its substantial financial support for various projects, and urged his discussion partners to continue working to make the organisation still more responsive and political so as to deal as effectively as possible with the challenges facing Europe.
One concrete example of Norway’s contribution here was the next European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, due to be held in Oslo in autumn 2014. The President also praised the activities of the European Wergeland Centre, which should be widely publicised.
During the meeting with the President and the Vice-President of the Nordic Council, the two sides agreed to launch joint practical activities in Belarus with a view to strengthening co-operation with civil society representatives who champion the Council of Europe’s values, in particular young people. Jean-Claude Mignon also underlined the significant contribution which the Nordic counties can play in strengthening dialogue in the region.
This desire to work together ties in with the goal of giving fresh impetus to the co-operation agreement which the PACE and the Nordic Council have had in place since 1989.
In 2014, Norway will celebrate the bicentenary of its constitution, the oldest written constitution in Europe. Jean-Claude Mignon said he was impressed by the way it had been adapted to the modern era: “Norwegians’ attitude to their constitution is an outstanding example of how a constitution can give a country political and social stability, irrespective of changes in the political landscape,” he said.