European Free Alliance General Assembly

November 8th and 9th, 2001

On the 8th and 9th of November, 2001, a delegation from the RAINBOW party attended the General Assembly of the European Free Alliance (EFA-DPPE) in Brussels.

Among other things, the agenda covered discussions concerning the "other" enlargement: cultures, languages, peoples and regions. For a real democracy and the respect of the rule of law.

Participants included Dr. Marcus Warasin, General Secretary, European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, Mr. Anti Korkeakivi, Secretary of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Council of Europe, Mr. Timothy Waters, Open Society Institute (judicial independence) and Mr. Jose Maria Munoa, Committee of the regions, European Alliance Group.

During the discussions participants had an opportunity to ask Mr. Warasin about the possibility of opening an office of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages in Greece next year.

Discussions with Mr. Korkeakivi focused on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the fact that Greece, while a signatory since September, 1997, has still not ratified the agreement in parliament.