"We know that the Republic of Montenegro will continue its democratic development and implement the regulations and values of the Council of Europe". This morning, Fiorenzo Stolfi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of San Marino, president on duty of the Committee of the Ministers of the CoE, welcomed Montenegro as the 47th member of the organisation. The ceremony was hosted by the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg. Stolfi went on: "The authorities of Montenegro have shown a promising spirit of cooperation and a strong will to contribute, through the Council of Europe, to peace, stability and democracy in the Balkans". The day goes on in Strasbourg, with the meeting of the Committee of the Ministers. The items on the agenda include: relations between the CoE and the EU and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, "to outline a new, stronger cooperation framework"; cooperation between the CoE and the Agency for Fundamental Rights of the EU; the development of intercultural dialogue and the process of internal reform of the CoE. At the end of the session, Serbia will take over from San Marino at the chair of the Committee of the Ministers for the next six months. Vuk Draskovic, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, will announce the priorities of his term.
