The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine insists on the maximum openness of the process of electing a new Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) and proposes to hold a live webcast of the debate, noting the importance of holding this post by a woman, a representative of a central or east European country.

"We call for maximum transparency in this process, which could be achieved, inter alia, by taking on board innovative approaches. As an example, a live webcast debate proved to be effective during the selection of the United Nations Secretary-General," a document says, posted on Tuesday, which sets out the vision of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on what criteria the person who will head the organization must meet.

There also arguments in favor a woman who will probably occupy this post. "All these years there have been many good and powerful men successfully steering the work of the Secretariat, and only one woman. It was the representative of France, Catherine Lalumière, who significantly contributed to uniting two parts of Europe in 1989-1994. Today, there is again a huge demand for a leader who can consolidate Council of Europe members based on the principles and values enshrined in its Statute. While believing that the best and the strongest candidate must win a transparent and fair competition, we insist that after 70 years of men’s dominance at the top of the Secretariat, women of Europe should seize the opportunity to get a second opportunity to play a crucial role in navigating the Council of Europe through turbulent times," the MFA says.

It is also noted that it is important for the Secretariat to be headed by a representative of Central or Eastern Europe. "While for the first four decades after the creation of the Council of Europe it was almost exclusively a Western European institution, the past three decades have been marked by historic expansion and the inclusion of more than 20 new members from Eastern and Central Europe. Yet, the outstanding contribution made by the nations of Eastern and Central Europe to the expansion and consolidation of democracy throughout the continent has not been recognized by the Council of Europe when it comes to the position of the Secretary General. We believe that the representatives of these countries should be afforded an opportunity to lead the Secretariat for the first time in the seven decades of the Council of Europe’s existence," the document reads.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says that Ukraine strongly believes in the important and pioneering role of the Council of Europe in setting legal standards in the field of democracy, promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the European continent and beyond, and looks forward to an open and democratic selection process of the next Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

According to the established procedure, candidates nominated by the CoE Committee of Ministers will be handed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which will elect a new Secretary General by a vote at its June 2019 session.