Council of Europe
70. The Council of Europe has become an important
gatekeeper and guarantor of democracy and human rights in its
member states. In recent years the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe has (through its Committee on the Honouring
of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council
of Europe) become more vigilant in ensuring that its member states
do not fall short on the delivery of the rights which the European
Convention on Human Rights guarantees. Membership of the Council
has therefore become an important aspiration for states which
wish to demonstrate that they have thrown off the repressive ways
of the Soviet empire. Of the states in the region, only Georgia
has so far been admitted to the Council of Europe—in April
1999. It was clear to us during our visit to Georgia that the
country took great pride in this achievement, and that, for example,
human rights groups realised that this was an additional opportunity
open to them to ensure that their country did not depart from
democratic and human rights norms.[146]
Indeed, Georgian membership of the Council of Europe was only
approved on the basis of a number of conditions set out in an
Opinion agreed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, following a detailed report from its Political Affairs
Committee, of which Mr Terry Davis MP was Rapporteur.[147]
71. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
allows a form of associate membership to states which are in transition
to full membership. This is known as Special Guest Status. This
was given to Georgia in May 1996. In January that year, Armenia
had also received special guest status, and the same status was
extended to Azerbaijan in January 1998. There was a clear desire
among all whom we met in Armenia for their country to proceed
to full membership of the Council. The hope was expressed that
the elections on May 30 1999 would be judged free and fair, and
that no obstacle would then remain to membership.[148]
In the case of Armenia and Azerbaijan the desire to join the Council
is an important lever which can be used to promote change, as
Mr Sammut of LINKS told us.[149]
72. We were also made aware of a strong desire in
Kazakhstan to join the Council of Europe. Other Central Asian
states, many of which have substantial populations of European
origin, may also in due course wish to join. This poses something
of a problem for the Council of Europe. The fundamental text which
defines eligibility for membership[150]
restricts membership "in principle" to states "whose
national territory lies wholly or partly in Europe." It accepts
that the boundaries of Europe "have not yet been comprehensively
defined", but goes on to list states which are regarded as
eligible. Kazakhstan is not in this list, though part of its territory
lies west of the Urals, and thus is regarded by some as part of
Europe. On some definitions, the Caucasus would not be regarded
as European, but the text contains an interesting passage in relation
to the South Caucasus states:
"In view of their cultural
links with Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia would have
the possibility of applying for membership provided they clearly
indicate their will to be considered as part of Europe. However,
a new iron curtain should not be drawn behind these states as
this would run the risk of preventing the spread of the Council
of Europe's basic values to other countries. Neighbouring countries
of "geographical" Europe should, if they so wish, be
viewed as possible candidates for suitable co-operation."
We believe that Kazakhstan and the other countries
of Central Asia should certainly be encouraged to subscribe to
the Council of Europe's basic values. We note the British Government's
view[151] that Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Belarus are the only countries within the former
Soviet Union which are not already Member States of the Council
of Europe which are eligible in principle to join the Council.
However, at the very least, we believe that Kazakhstan, and any
other state in the region which expresses the desire, should be
eligible for Observer status at the Council of Europe—a
status enjoyed by Israel and Canada. We note that Ms Quin appeared
sympathetic to meeting in some way the aspirations of the states
concerned. Ultimately it is for the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe to decide which states are eligible to join.
We recommend that the British Government work within the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe to achieve a suitable status
within the Council for the countries of Central Asia which have
undertaken to subscribe to its core values and which have made
material progress in that direction.
The World Trade Organisation
(WTO)
73. The Kyrgyz Republic acceded to the WTO[152]
in December 1998, having substantially liberalised its trade regime.
It is the first country in the CIS to join the WTO: other states
of the region are in various stages of negotiations towards membership.
However, the other states which have customs agreements with the
Kyrgyz Republic through the CIS, have reacted badly to the accession
of the Kyrgyz Republic to the WTO, and have imposed, or threatened
to impose, tariff barriers. It remains to be seen how the accession
will affect Kyrgyz trade with Russia and with China, neither of
which is yet a WTO member. Overall, the requirements of WTO membership
(which set thresholds encouraging member countries to adhere to
free trade norms) are an important incentive for countries in
the region to liberalise their economies.
120 Cm 4209, p. 26. Back
121
Evidence p. 81. Back
122
See above, paragraph 38. Back
123
See below, paragraph 130. Back
124
Appendix 33, Evidence p. 203. Back
125
Financial Times, 23 June 1999, p. 2. Back
126
Appendix 33, Evidence p. 207. Back
127
Appendix 33, Evidence p. 205. Back
128
See below, paragraphs 133-140. Back
129
Appendix 33, p. 204. Back
130
Thirty-third Report of the Select Committee on the European Communities,
Session 1997-98, Partnership and Trust: The Tacis Programme:
the environment of Russia and the New Independent States,
HL 157. See also HL Deb, 22 April 1999, cols. 1307-1336. Back
131
QQ 23-25. Back
132
QQ 80-82. Back
133
The House took note on 8 June of a new European Council Regulation
for the provision of assistance to economic reform and recovery
in the NIS and Mongolia, to include an improvement of Tacis procedures,
following debate in European Standing Committee B on 19 May.
European Standing Committee B, Stg Co Deb, 19 May 1999. Back
134
Appendix 33, Evidence p. 202 and Evidence p. 3. Back
135
Q45. Back
136
Tajikistan has not at present joined PfP for financial reasons. Back
137
Third Report of the Defence Committee, Session 1998-99, The
Future of NATO: The Washington Summit, HC 39, paragraph 132.
See the memorandum from the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United
Kingdom setting out Azerbaijan's position on relations with NATO:
Appendix 42, p. 233. Back
138
Strategic Concept of the North Atlantic Alliance, approved by
the North Atlantic Council, Washington, 23-24 April 1999, Article
10. Press release NAC-S(99)65, available via NATO website: www.nato.int. Back
139
HL Deb, 25 May 1999, col. 74. Back
140
Strategic Concept, Article 14. Back
141
See above, paragraphs 26-35. Back
142
Decisions of the OSCE Permanent Council of 23 July 1998, Nos.
PC/DEC 245, 243 and 244 respectively. Back
143
HL Deb, 21 June 1999, col. 648. Back
144
See below, paragraph 144. Back
145
See below, paragraphs 131 and 132, and also HL Deb., 14 June 1999,
col. 2w. Back
146
QQ73-75. Back
147
Doc. 8275, December 1998; Opinion 209, January 1999. Back
148
We deal with these elections at paragraph 107 below. Back
149
Q62. Back
150
Recommendation 1247 (1994) on Enlargement of the Council of Europe. Back
151
HC Deb 31 March 1999 col. 694w; see also Q233. Back
152
The WTO describes its purpose as "to ensure that trade flows
as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible" by "administering
trade agreements; acting as a forum for trade negotiations; settling
trade disputes; reviewing national trade policies; assisting developing
countries in trade policy issues, through technical assistance
and training programmes; cooperating with other international
organisations." Overall, the WTO enshrines the important
MFN or "most-favoured nation" principle, that each member
country has to treat all its fellow-members equally: it cannot
discriminate between members. If one country grants another country
a special favour (such as a lower duty rate for an imported product)
that favour also has to be given to other WTO members so that
they are all equally "most-favoured". See the WTO web
site: www.wto.org. Back
