...The official Explanatory Report published by the Council, that ambitiously defines the Convention as "the first legally binding multilateral instrument...the protection of national minorities in general", is very careful: it does not imply - says paragraph 13 of the Report - the recognition of collective...

...probably the most comprehensive international documents of their kind and the Framework Convention is the first legally binding multilateral instrument...the protection of national minorities in general. These conventions are open to voluntary accession by members, as well as nonmembers of the council...

...Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is a unique- instrument in that it is "the first ever legally binding multilateral instrument devoted to the protection of national minorities in general".1" Article 1 of this Convention also makes it clear that "the protection of national minorities...