Council of Europe
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Czech Republic: Party financing loophole for corruption
2 May 2011PresseuropHospodářské Noviny -
Kosovo: Hashim Thaçi, the big fish of Pristina
25 January 2011138 The Guardian London -
Institutions: The long arm of the Council of Europe
29 June 2010191 The Guardian London -
Human rights: Europe can close Guantánamo
25 January 2010The Irish Times Dublin
As the Council of Europe prepares to demand an investigation into the shady underworld dealings of Kosovo PM Hashim Thaçi, secret Nato documents leaked to British daily The Guardian provide more shocking revelations about a prized Western ally. 
On issues such as burqa bans, same sex marriages and human rights, the Council of Europe is making its presence increasingly felt. But this hitherto inconspicuous organisation, frequently confused with the EU, has an image problem. 
One year after Barack Obama announced his intention to dismantle Guantánamo, 198 prisoners still remain at the notorious detention centre. Colm O'Gorman in the Irish Times argues that Europe, having facilitated extraordinary rendition flights and CIA secret detention centres, made Guantánamo possible, and must open its doors to former detainees.