11/04/2019 | 16:41:10 I, too, thank Mr Mart van de VEN for presenting this report, especially given that lately authorities around the European Union have been deeply concerned about the extent of money laundering involving various member States. The Republic of Moldova has felt first-hand the negative consequences of being used in an international money laundering scheme. Over $20 billion was laundered an operation that came to be known simply as “the Russian Laundromat”. It was made possible by the structural... 10/04/2019 | 11:47:46 I thank both rapporteurs for presenting these reports. I will support both reports, but I have several critical remarks to make. It seems as though every other year, hate speech captures the attention of the Assembly of the Council of Europe. From my point of view, it is somewhat ironic that the West, which has its roots in the enlightenment and is one of the freest places in the world, has such a strong impulse to tell people what they can and cannot say. Having had first-hand experience of... 09/04/2019 | 18:35:01 I, too, thank Ms Thorhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR for presenting this report on the importance of promoting parliaments free of sexism and sexual harassment. I believe that as leaders in our national parliaments, we have a moral duty to set a high standard in assuring full respect for our fellow female politicians. Although under no circumstances should indecent, vulgar remarks and jokes be accepted and tolerated in the public sphere, some of the proposed solutions fall short of solving the... 08/04/2019 | 13:03:00 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) I want to thank Mr Kern and the members of the Parliamentary Assembly observation mission for observing the Moldovan parliamentary elections on 24 February 2019. I would like to mention several things about the report’s conclusions. The most important conclusion is the fact that the Moldovan Parliament elections were competitive, free, calm and well organised. It does not mean that everything was perfect. I believe the Republic of Moldova has... 22/01/2019 | 19:04:20 I thank the rapporteurs for their hard work, and for presenting their reports and opinions. There are many good conclusions and justified recommendations. However, while efforts to prevent abusive practices in certain religions should continue, we must remember that freedom of religion is a fundamental right, protected both in the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other prominent human rights declarations. Thus, while we cannot... 21/01/2019 | 18:16:10 Today the United States celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Fifty-six years ago Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most beautiful speeches in human history: “I have a dream... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” The world heard him and things started to change. The civil rights movement has grown and in the last five decades all minorities have won...