-8Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1323 and Order No. 530 (1997)4 D. 12. The CPT is most grateful for the support for its work expressed by the Parliamentary Assembly in Recommendation 1323 and Order No. 530, on the strengthening of the machinery of the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 13. Various aspects of these two texts will be referred to in the chapter "Organisational issues". However, the CPT wishes at this point to welcome the emphasis placed in Recommendation 1323 on the importance of States ensuring that all the relevant authorities and personnel, at both national and local level, are made aware of the CPT's work and of its tasks and powers. Indeed, this is a sine qua non for the success of the Committee's activities. The CPT also appreciates the measures adopted designed to promote cooperation between the Committee and the Assembly, and to have transmitted to the Committee relevant information gathered by the Assembly. II. ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES A. The Convention and its Protocols 14. In the course of 1997, the Convention was ratified by Andorra, Croatia, Moldova, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and Ukraine, and signed by Latvia. Taking into account subsequent ratifications in 19985, the Convention has now been ratified by 39 of the 40 member States of the Council of Europe, and has been signed by Lithuania6. From the standpoint of the maintenance of human rights, this is a very positive development. However, it also means that the tasks facing the CPT will continue to grow in magnitude. 15. The two Protocols amending the Convention7 were also signed and/or ratified by a number of States during 19978. However, neither of the Protocols has yet entered into force; in the case of each Protocol, entry into force requires ratification (or signature without reservation as to ratification) by all Parties to the Convention. 4 These texts were adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 21 April 1997. 5 Latvia (10 February 1998) and the Russian Federation (5 May 1998). 6 See Appendix 1 A for the state of signatures and ratifications of the Convention. 7 Protocol No. 1 "opens" the Convention by providing that the Committee of Ministers may invite any non-member State of the Council of Europe to accede to it; Protocol No. 2 introduces amendments regarding the renewal of the CPT's membership and provides that members may be re-elected twice. 8 See Appendices 1 B and 1 C for the state of signatures and ratifications of the Protocols.