Vol. 425 No. 7
91 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the greatest crisis facing Europe at this time is the problem of minority rights; and if he will seek a special conference to be set up under the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe to work on developing pan-European mechanisms for dealing with the question.
I agree with the Deputy on the importance of this issue particularly at the present time. I may add that the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms has been a central concern of the CSCE since its inception.
The Charter of Paris for a New Europe signed by the CSCE Heads of State or Government in 1990 acknowledged that the rights of persons belonging to national minorities must be fully respected as part of universal human rights. Subsequently, a meeting of Experts of National Minorities was convened in Geneva in July 1991 to hold a thorough discussion on the issue of national minorities and of the rights of persons belonging to them.
The CSCE Heads of State or Government at their meeting in Helsinki in July 1992 decided to appoint a High Commissioner on National Minorities. The Commissioner's mandate is to provide "early warning" and, as appropriate, "early action" in regard to tensions involving national minority issues that have the potential to develop into a conflict within the CSCE area, affecting peace, stability, or relations between CSCE Participating States. The distinguished former Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Max van der Stoel, has recently taken up the position of High Commissioner.
