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On 18 October, 2001
the Council of Europe celebrated the 40th anniversary of the
European Social Charter. It was precisely on 18 October, 1961 that
the Committee of Ministers opened the Charter for signature,
inviting the member states to adhere to this major treaty,
guaranteeing social and economic rights and hence serving as a
genuine counterpart to the European Convention on Human Rights
which, for its part, guarantees civil and political rights.
In Sofia the event was marked by a
ceremony in the Center for Study of Democracy - the host
organization for the Council of Europe
Information and Documentation Center in Sofia. Ms.Lydia
Shouleva, Deputy Prime Minister and Labor and Social Policy
Minister, Ms. Elena Poptodorova, Director of Human Rights
Department in Foreign Affairs Ministry, members of the Bulgarian
Ratification Committee, the Director of National Employment Office
Mr. Oleg Choulev, and the leaders of two of the largest trade
unions Mr. Zhelyazko Hristov, Mr. Konstantin Trenchev were among
the guests of the evening. Bulgaria has ratified the Revised
European Social Charter on June 7, 2000.
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