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DECLARATION BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ON SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers welcomes the outcome of negotiations between the highest representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, with the good offices of the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, on the restructuring of relations between Serbia and Montenegro. He confirms his conviction, already expressed in the Committee of Ministers' message of support of 21 February 2002, that this agreement will "serve the interests of both Serbia and Montenegro" and have a positive impact on the whole region. It is vital that continued dialogue and negotiation lead to the implementation of the agreement. Its implementation, along with progress on necessary reforms, e.g., co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, reform of the judiciary and the police, situation of the media and civilian control over the army, will permit accession of the country to the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is ready to lend its support, inter alia through the Venice Commission on Democracy through Law, to the implementation of the agreement by assisting the drawing up of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro and of the constitutions of both Serbia and Montenegro.