Reparation and reconciliation processes to overcome past conflicts and build a common peaceful future – the question of just and equal redress

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 15676 | 05 January 2023

Signatories:

Ms Thórhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Mr Knut ABRAHAM, Germany, EPP/CD ; Ms Iwona ARENT, Poland, EC/DA ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Ms Heike ENGELHARDT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Erkin GADIRLI, Azerbaijan, EC/DA ; Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Lord Leslie GRIFFITHS, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Mr Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Julian PAHLKE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Catarina ROCHA FERREIRA, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Mr Axel SCHÄFER, Germany, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Mr André VALLINI, France, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Wars and violent conflicts are inherently linked with human suffering and destruction. The damage caused in the conflict is both material and immaterial in nature and often outlasts the duration of the conflict itself.

Negotiations between the respective parties on how to deal with the damage caused by the conflict are therefore essential to the peace process and finally, reconciliation. In this context, reparation payments, reconciliation processes and global cultural projects aiming for a better international understanding are established means of achieving rapprochement. At the same time, there are factors that limit the appropriateness of compensation claims. These include among others temporal, as well as legal factors. We deem it necessary to further analyse the question of grounds facilitating reconciliation as well as factors hampering the validity of compensation claims.

Since its founding, the Council of Europe has served as a platform for dialogue, and its member States have committed themselves to peaceful coexistence in its Statute. Therefore, we call upon the Parliamentary Assembly to address the above raised questions so to further promote constructive co-operation between all Council of Europe member States.