07/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - At the launch of celebrations, on 29 December 2008, marking the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Ángel Moratinos, President of the Committee of Ministers Lluís Maria de Puig, who chairs the Parliamentary Assembly, and Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe declared: “We are proud that this organisation, bringing together 47 member states, has defended and promoted human rights and fundamental freedoms for six decades. The most significant achievement is the European Convention on Human Rights, together with its unique control mechanism, the European Court of Human Rights, which guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of 800 million Europeans and will also commemorate this year its 50th anniversary. The Council of Europe has made a major contribution to democratic processes all over Europe, not least through its standard-setting, its advisory role in constitutional matters and the monitoring of elections”. 2009 will see a number of events to celebrate this important anniversary. The 119th Session of the Committee of Ministers, bringing together the ministers of foreign affairs of member states in Madrid on 12 May, will be one of the high points. (O.J./transl.rt)