- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 23 September 1968 (10th and 11th Sittings) (see Doc. 2433, report of the Committee on European Non-Member Countries). Text adopted by the Assembly on 23 September 1968 (10th and 11th Sittings).
The Assembly,
1. Having followed with sorrow and reprobation the dramatic events in Czechoslovakia where, in flagrant violation of international law and of the principles frequently and publicly proclaimed by the Russian leaders, the armed forces of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany and Poland have occupied a sovereign state in order to impose their political will ;
2. Condemning this brutal act of force which is a new blow at the right of self-determination of a European country that has forcefully expressed its desire for independence and freedom ;
3. Expressing its admiration for and solidarity with the oppressed Czechoslovak people which is being subjected to intolerable pressures designed to bring a halt to the process of democratisation to which the country had committed itself ;
4. Expressing the unanimous public opinion of free countries,
5. Calls on its members to take all necessary steps in their parliaments and in relation to their governments so as to ensure that :
a the Soviet Union and the countries having taken part in the invasion are summoned to Withdraw their occupation forces from Czechoslovakia immediately ;
b the Czechoslovak people is allowed to take in hand its own destiny free from any external interference ;
c Czechoslovak refugees receive the welcome and assistance that the member countries of the Council of Europe have undertaken to grant persons threatened with persecution in accordance with Resolution (67) 14 of the Committee of Ministers ;
6. Asks the Committee on European Non-Member Countries to follow closely the course of events in Czechoslovakia and their repercussions throughout Eastern European, and to report periodically to the Assembly.
