Schieder calls for quicker accession of Serbia and Montenegro into the Council of Europe

Strasbourg, March 13, 2003 - Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Schieder urged on Thursday the Committee of Ministers to allow Serbia and Montenegro to become a full member of the Council of Europe as soon as possible, during the regular spring session to be held from March 31 and April 4, the Tanjug news agency reported.

"The assassination of the Prime Minister of Serbia, Zoran Djindjic, has deeply affected us all. I feel that there is now an urgent need to offer the country assistance, support and cooperation, "said Schieder in his letter to the Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Borg.

Schieder said that he took this initiative because he is aware of the needs of this region, and is strongly convinced that this is the precise moment in time that a positive signal from Europe would be of the utmost importance.