Romania supports the activity of the European Council for ensuring Roma people's social inclusion, President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday, in the plenary meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
He underlined that, through a constant dialogue with the Council of Europe, Romania became an example in regards to protecting and promoting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.
"In my opinion, the national minorities represent a true value of a nation, which enriches and contributes to building a solid bridge between states. In respect to the Roma minority and its social inclusion, we can assess that our step-by-step multi-institutional approach, over the past 15 years created tangible results. Certainly, though, there are things yet to be done," President Iohannis pointed out, reaffirming Romania's firm support for the activity of the Council of Europe in this area, as well as our country's commitment to further work in order to ensure Roma people's social inclusion, both in Romania as well as in Europe, in general.
In respect to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), he added that just the continuous efforts of the Court in Strasbourg are not enough.
"The states which are part of the Convention have to be the main protectors of the human rights. Furthermore, we cannot ignore, nor tolerate the situation in which, in certain member states, the Court's decisions are not enforced. On the other hand, the Protocol 16 of the Convention will be a factor that will contribute to a better implementation of the Convention's standards, through the judicial dialogue. Romania already signed the Protocol 16 and we currently are in the stage of drawing up the necessary legislative package in order to introduce in our procedure system the possibility that the highest national jurisdictions can request the Court consultative approvals," the head of state revealed.
Iohannis pointed out that Romania's accession to the Council of Europe in 1993 was one of the major steps in the transition process towards democracy and played a key-role in the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe significantly contributed in my country to the rule of law development, as well as to the strengthening of the respect for the human rights - which portrays Romania today," the head of state said, underlining in this context the importance of judicial instruments of the Council of Europe in strengthening a democratic state.
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