02/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, welcomed moves by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) with a view to joining the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. He welcomed the non-violent reaction of the FRY to tension in southern Serbia. Mr Schwimmer's declaration follows a visit to Strasbourg by FRY Federal Minister for National and Ethnic Communities Rasim Llajic, who announced that the Yugoslav Parliament should be able to authorise the signature of the framework convention by the summer.