TNAG-2321-FCO40-3365-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 205

HKC 241/2 (95)

REPORT OF THE CSCE MEETING OF EXPERTS

ON NATIONAL MINORITIES, GENEVA 1991

The representatives of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada,

Cyprus, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,

Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands-European Community,

Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,

Turkey, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the

United States of America and Yugoslavia met in Geneva from 1 to 19 July 1991

in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of Paris for a

New Europe.

An opening address to the Meeting was delivered by H.E. Rene Felber,

Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of

Switzerland, on behalf of the host country. Opening statements were made by

H.E. Catharina Dales, Minister of the Interior of the Netherlands on behalf of

the Netherlands-European Community, and by Heads of Delegation of the

participating States. Contributions to the Meeting were made by

Ms. Catherine Lalumiere, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and

Mr. Jan Martenson, Under-Secretary-General in charge of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights in Geneva. The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of

the host country, Mr. Klaus Jacobi, delivered a closing address to the Meeting.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of Paris, the representatives of the participating States had a thorough discussion on the issues of national minorities and of the rights of persons belonging to them

that reflected the diversity of situations and of the legal, historical,

political and economic backgrounds. They had an exchange of views on practical experience with national minorities, in particular on national legislation, democratic institutions, international instruments and other possible forms of co-operation. Views were expressed on the implementation of

the relevant CSCE commitments, and the representatives of the participating States also considered the scope for the improvement of relevant standards. They also considered new measures aimed at improving the implementation of the

aforementioned commitments.