TNAG-2321-FCO40-3365-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 27

Annex II

Seminar of Experts on Democratic Institutions

I. Agenda

1. Formal opening of the Seminar.

Address by a representative of the host country.

2. Opening statements by representatives of the participating States.

3. Contributions by the Council of Europe and the Commission "Democracy through Law".

4. Discussion of ways and means of consolidating and strengthening viable democratic institutions in participating States, including comparative studies of legislation on human rights and fundamental freedoms, drawing inter alia upon the experience acquired by the Council of Europe and the activities of the Commission "Democracy through Law".

5. Closing statements by representatives of the participating States and summing up.

6.

Formal closure of the Seminar.

II. Timetable and other Organizational Modalities

1. The Seminar will open on Monday, 4 November 1991, at 3 p.m., in Oslo. It will close on Friday, 15 November 1991.

2.

All Plenary Meetings will be open. The meetings of the Study Groups will be closed.

3. Agenda items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will be dealt with in the Plenary.

4. Agenda item 4 will be dealt with in the Plenary as well as in the following three Study Groups:

*Study Group A:

- Constitutional reforms

-The rule of law and independent courts

- Division of power between legislative, executive and judicial authorities

**Study Group B:

--- The organization of elections

-The organization of political parties

The organization of independent non-governmental organizations (trade unions, employers' organizations)

- The role of the media

***Study Group C:

- Comparative studies of legislation in the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

5. Meetings of the Plenary and of the Study Groups will be held according to the attached work programme. The work programme may be modified by consensus.

Opening statements by representatives of the participating States should, as a rule, not exceed 12 minutes per delegation, and will be held in the following order: Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden, Poland, Portugal, Holy See, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey, Germany, United States of America, San Marino, Monaco, Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, Luxembourg, Romania, Ireland, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Greece, France, Denmark, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Canada, Norway, Malta, Spain, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Netherlands, Italy, Hungary.

6. Prior to the opening of the Seminar delegations are encouraged to circulate through the Executive Secretariat written contributions on the issues to be dealt with in the Study Groups.

7. The Council of Ministers will take into account the summing up carried out under item 5 of the Agenda.

8. At the opening and closing Plenary meetings, the Chair will be taken by a representative of the host country. After the opening Plenary meeting, the Chair will be taken in daily rotation, in French alphabetical order, starting with a representative of the United States of America.

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