Today, on November 20, the Roundtable of the Ethnic Minorities of the President of the Republic held a meeting to discuss the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was concluded on the initiative of the Council of Europe in 1995 and concerns the cultural, language and educational rights of the national minorities. Estonia ratified the Framework Convention in 1996 and the Convention entered into force on February 1, this year.

In accordance with the Convention, Estonia will have to present a report on the implementation of the Convention for February 1, 1999. The Roundtable meeting was arranged in order to discuss how Estonia should draw up the report and how the Roundtable could participate in the process. Frank Steketee, Advisor of the National Minorities Bureau of the Human Rights Directorate of the Council of Europe, participated in the meeting and spoke of the key articles of the Convention and the international context. Marju Lauristin, Member of the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention, also gave a presentation on the meeting. The Advisory Committee consists of independent experts and has the task to consider the reports and advise the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in deciding the countries' accordance with the provisions of the Framework Convention. Gea Rennel, Advisor of the Policy Department represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and after her presentation the floor was given to Aleksey Semyonov, Member of the Roundtable.

The Roundtable decided to appoint a working-group consisting of 6 members that would analyse the provisions of the Framework Convention more closely and draw up a list of questions that the Roundtable considers worthy of closer consideration, for the next Roundtable Meeting. It was agreed with the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that when the draft report has been compiled (probably by the end of January) it would also be delivered to the Roundtable for commentaries before the final version will be approved. It was also noted that the Roundtable (as all NGOs) would have the right to deliver information directly to the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities if they consider it necessary.

The next meeting of the Roundtable will take place on December 18, 1998.

The Roundtable is an advisory body acting by the President and comprising the representatives of the cultural associations of ethnic minorities, political parties and the Russian community.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 20, 1998

back | archive of press releases | main page