20/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 13 March, the Council of Europe officially opened an office in Belgrade. Result of a joint initiative with the OSCE, it will serve as point of contact for cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), which has requested membership of the Council, and thereby allow for relations with the Serb Republic. The Chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Latvia's Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, is currently on an official visit to Belgrade (19-21 March) and will then go on to Sarajevo (21-22 March) at the head of a delegation made up of several permanent representatives to the organisation.