-8II. ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES A. The Convention and its Protocols 16. In the course of 1996, the Convention was ratified by Albania and Estonia, and signed by Andorra, Croatia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and Ukraine. Taking into account subsequent ratifications in 19975, the Convention has to date been ratified by 35 of the 40 member States of the Council of Europe and signed by the other member States with the exception of Latvia6. 17. The two Protocols amending the Convention7 were also signed and/or ratified by a number of States during 19968. 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. The fact that some Parties to the Convention have not yet consented to be bound by Protocol No. 1 is not of particular concern to the CPT. The intrinsic value of this Protocol has been significantly diminished by virtue of the expanding membership of the Council of Europe. Further, the Committee has always recognised that certain States may not consider it expedient to ratify this instrument. The situation is quite different as regards Protocol No. 2. This instrument provides for amendments of a purely technical nature which would greatly facilitate the Committee's work. The CPT must make known its profound disappointment that almost four years after Protocol No. 2 was opened for signature - and despite repeated requests by the Committee - seven Parties to the Convention have still not given their consent to be bound by the text. The Committee wishes to add its voice to that of the Parliamentary Assembly, which recently recommended that the Committee of Ministers "urge the States Parties to the Convention which have not yet done so to ratify its Protocols and, in particular, Protocol No. 2 without delay, thus allowing its entry into force" and "invite the authorities of States considering ratification of the Convention to ratify its Protocol No. 2 at the same time".9 5 Andorra (16 January 1997), "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (6 June 1997), Ukraine (5 May 1997). 6 See Appendix 1A 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 reelected twice. 8 See Appendix 1 B and 1 C for the state of signatures and ratifications of the Protocols. 9 See paragraph 10 (ii and iii) of Recommendation 1323 (1997), adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly on 21 April 1997.