Russia Opposes Vilnius Hosting Next Session Of CE Committee Of Ministers

Russia is against the intention of Lithuania to host the 110th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe /CE/ on May 12 next year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksander Avdeyev told the General Secretary of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer during their talks within the 109th session of the CE Committee of Ministers. Sessions of the Committee, Avdeyev added, generally take place in the Strasbourg Palace of Europe. Lithuanian authorities want to link the forthcoming session to the events in NATO; Lithuanians think it should lead to admitting their country to the organisation, the diplomat stressed. The 110th session of the CE Committee of Ministers should succour to that process, he added. Russia does not approve of this, so we have warned Walter Schwimmer against allowing everybody to solve their own problems under the CE cover, Avdeyev announced. From this day on, Lithuania is taking chairmanship of the Committee.