Ministers agree way for Russia to rejoin Europe's human rights body

Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipila, Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland attend The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe's annual meeting in Helsinki, Finland May 17, 2019. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. FINLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN FINLAND.

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from the Council of Europe, the continent's chief human rights watchdog, reached an agreement on Friday that opens the way for Russia to return to the organisation, resolving a dispute that began after Moscow's seizure of Crimea.

The agreement follows efforts by France and Germany to find a compromise among the 47-nation group and means Russia will likely take part in a meeting of the council's parliamentary assembly in June, when key new appointments will be made.