OSCE/ODIHR Director discusses co-operation with Council of Europe Secretary General

The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, met the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in Warsaw on 15 September 2011 to discuss furthering strong co-operation between the two organizations.

Lenarčič praised the close collaboration with the Council of Europe, noting particularly joint legal opinions and guidelines with the Venice Commission and the partnership with the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly in election observation missions.

Earlier the OSCE human rights chief addressed a conference marking 20 years of Poland’s membership in the Council of Europe.

“Two decades later, we see a Poland that has successfully claimed its rightful place in the family of democracies, and, as grateful beneficiary of international and European solidarity in the past, is now extending its own solidarity and democracy support in its neighbourhood and the world,” Lenarčič said.