No: 139, 4 May 2014

H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey will go to Vienna to participate in the 124th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe which will be hosted by the Austrian Chairmanship on 5-6 May 2014.

The Committee of Ministers, which meets once a year, is the main decision-making body of the Council of Europe. This meeting held on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the foundation of the Council of Europe is of particular significance.

The Council of Europe, whose core values are human rights, the rule of law and pluralistic democracy, has become the democracy forum which covers the largest geographical area in Europe.

Turkey, which is among the founding members of the Council of Europe, is one of the leading countries actively contributing to the development of the principles and objectives of the Council of Europe and to the strengthening of its role in the European architecture.

The main theme of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers will be “Council of Europe values and stability in Europe: current challenges”. The meeting will assess the report prepared by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, entitled: “State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe”.

A handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers from Austria to Azerbaijan will also be held during the meeting.