OREANDA-NEWS. German foreign Minister Heiko Maas reported about the theme of Germany's Presidency of the Council of Europe. Politician said this in an interview with the Funke media group published on Wednesday, November 18. According to the words of Minister human rights will be the theme of Germany's presidency of the Council of Europe.

Heiko Maas reminded that the protest actions in Belarus is an example of how much democracy, human rights and the rule of law can suffer in the heart of Europe, but outside the Council of Europe. The Minister also recalled that Germany, positioning itself as a guardian of human rights in Europe, despite the resistance, supported the full return of Russia to the Council of Europe. At the same time, it was about the commitment to comply with the European Convention on human rights and ensuring access of Russian civil society to the European court of human rights (ECHR).

The protection of human rights is important in the fight against modern challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic, and when considering the problems of the near future, such as the use of artificial intelligence, Maas said. The Council of Europe can and should play an important role in international legal regulation of such situations. "The individual and individual rights should remain a reference point in the use of artificial intelligence," the German foreign Minister said.