COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RELEASE COMMUNIQUE

( Editorial: --> 1681 ) STRASBOURG, May 5 (Hina) - The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on Tuesday urged the parties involved in the Kosovo crisis to desist from violence and begin constructive dialogue with the international community's participation. The plea by foreign ministers from 40 member-countries came at the end of their 102nd session in Strasbourg on Tuesday afternoon, which was chaired by Germany's Klaus Kinkel. The final communique expressed satisfaction with Russian Foreign Minister Evgeny Primakov's handing over of ratification instruments on several major European conventions, including the one on human rights, to Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys. The Committee of Ministers also stressed their conviction that all Council of Europe member countries give priority to obtaining and maintaining a moratorium on executions as soon as possible and completely abolish the death penalty. It also established the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) which will begin operating when 14 countries join. Ministers noted with satisfaction the continued development of relations and cooperation between the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union. (Hina) rm mb /mr 051938 MET may 98