26/04/2022 | 15:47:55 First of all, thank you for the question. Of course, in these horrible times, when the war has now entered its sixty-second day, it is unthinkable not to talk about the situation in Ukraine. Again, I would like to renew my solidarity with Ukraine, with the Ukrainian people and with the Ukrainian authorities. What we have seen is truly courageous, and we must salute it. We must do everything we can, on the side of the Council of Europe but also each of us on our side, to support and relieve... 26/04/2022 | 15:41:20 Well thank you very much for this very pertinent question. You would know from the Bureau meetings and this Parliamentary Assembly and some other fora that probably the execution of this case has been the most time mentioned by myself, I think, as I can recall. Not because others do not matter because the principle is the same for all. The obligation to abide by the Court's rulings are not a kind of invitation. I have repeated that time again and again, and this goes for this ruling as for... 14/03/2022 | 18:02:47 Now, for Ms Nicole Duranton's question. Thank you very much for your words. I think that I have largely spoken about refugees and democratic security in Europe. I can only agree with you. This is the central role of our Organisation, the role of the Council of Europe. It is through the application of standards, the application of human rights, democracy and the rule of law that we help this democratic security. If we want to say what the role of the Council of Europe is, we can explain it... 14/03/2022 | 17:47:24 I think some of the questions actually overlap, so I will try not to repeat the answer from one to the other. The issue of the new architecture has risen from several speakers. I would like, when it comes to the Council of Europe, I can say that what we can learn from this terrible experience that we are still going through, Ukraine is going through, and we, as a multilateral organisation that has Ukraine as a member. If we succeed to continue unitedly and strongly as we this time are on this... 14/03/2022 | 17:33:26 To be strong, the Council of Europe needs adequate resources. The Russian Federation is legally obliged to meet its financial commitments in accordance with our 2022-2025 program and budget. A first payment should have been made two weeks ago, but has not been received. The full amount should be paid by June. In any case, we will make projections to assess the possible impact on the program and budget if these amounts are not paid, and we will identify the measures that need to be taken if... 14/03/2022 | 17:23:17 Thank you, President. President of the Parliamentary Assembly, distinguished parliamentarians, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I begin by paying tribute to Prime Minister SHMYHAL for his powerful address this afternoon. These are hard days for Ukraine, but the Ukrainian government's determination was clear from his words and evident from the way in which his administration and the Ukrainian people have responded to the terrible acts of violence that continue in their country. We stand... 27/01/2022 | 15:43:50 It is important today to recognise and teach the facts of European history, striving for consensus among countries and avoiding, as far as possible, political instrumentalisation, so that the young people of our continent acquire the knowledge, skills and critical thinking skills necessary to understand their common past, including its darkest moments. That is why we have re‑invigorated our long-standing intergovernmental program for history education. Our Observatory on History Teaching in... 27/01/2022 | 15:40:34 President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister Patrizio Bianchi, Madam Claudia Plakolm, President of the Association "Families and friends of the deportees of Convoy 77", dear Ms CLARKE, distinguished parliamentarians, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It is always difficult to find the right words with which to talk about the Holocaust, to convey the horror of what took place and what this implies about humankind. Certainly, nothing that I say today can... 25/01/2022 | 16:27:13 Well, our position on this topic is rule-based and grounded in our two major treaties related to our minority protection. One is the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and the other is the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. As you mention, throughout Europe and throughout this difficult time of Covid-19, we have been witnessing an extreme situation for minorities. We are of a view that strengthening compliance with minority rights treaties is a... 25/01/2022 | 16:19:48 Thank you very much. Regarding your first question about the Twitter and the campaign that was linked, I can only reiterate what I have already said publicly: when the tweets were brought to my attention, I immediately asked for them to be withdrawn and, secondly, I made it very clear that their content did not reflect either the views of the Council of Europe or mine. That is on the substance of your question. Now for the procedure. That was the first immediate step; after that, it was clear...