23/01/2024 | 19:44:51 Thank you, Mr Chair. Dear colleagues, Dearrapporteur, I wish to thank Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ for his diligent work on this important matter. As the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy has recognised, the themes of migration and asylum have been frequently subjected to distortion and manipulation. The surge of far-right groups and xenophobic discourse as well as the rise and normalisation of discriminatory policies during election campaigns are particularly alarming. Such tactics... 23/01/2024 | 18:35:12 Madam Chairperson, In fact I do not disagree with the paragraph and with the proposal for the amendment but in this Document, there is no similar wording speaking about the protection of the Palestinian lives. We only care about the Israeli lives. We should care about Israeli lives but do we consider Palestinians as human animals? Because that was another statement by governmental officials from the extreme right-wing government of Netanyahu. We did not have the possibility as the President... 23/01/2024 | 18:02:14 Dear colleagues, In the 13 years I have been at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, there have been moments of disappointment due to the prevalence of double standards. On the other hand, there have also been many moments of satisfaction, as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stood up for its core values and principles, demonstrating in practice its resolve and determination as a pioneer Organisation in the field of human rights protection. However, in the... 12/10/2023 | 20:20:39 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Dear Colleagues, I wish to thank Ms Petra Bayr for her Report and the resolution and recommendations contained therein. The case of Osman Kavala and his continued detention is a direct consequence of the failing democratic institutions in Turkey as documented in our monitoring process of the country, consisting amongst others of persistent political interference in judicial proceedings and the continuous crackdown, intimidation and... 12/10/2023 | 20:15:44 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Dear Colleagues, I would like to thank Mr. Hajduković for the draft resolution and recommendation before us. The humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh is yet another example of the international community’s complacency in allowing the ‘law of the mighty’ to prevail against international law and the protection of human rights. We condemn Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno Karabakh that has created a critical humanitarian and human... 12/10/2023 | 16:08:48 Thank you, Madam President. Dear colleagues, Notwithstanding the fact that the Reykjavík summit reaffirmed the central role the Council of Europe has, which we firmly believe in, as guardian of the protection system of human rights in Europe, the organisation remains at the same time part of a multilateral system and world order that bears inherent weaknesses and flaws. As long as the pursuit of selfish state interests, profit of the privileged few and the imposition of global and regional... 11/10/2023 | 17:56:26 Thank you, Madam President. Allow me to thank our rapporteur, Mr Pieter OMTZIGT, for this excellent report that highlights the widespread use of spyware by the member states of this organisation. Let me begin by extending my sincere gratitude to all those journalists, non-governmental organisations, and whistle-blowers who, against all the odds, brought to light the use of spyware by states authorities and how this use seriously undermines the rule of law and other fundamental rights... 11/10/2023 | 15:45:21 Thank you, Mister President. Dear colleagues, our Assembly today should send a clear message condemning the brutal terrorist attacks and atrocities committed by Hamas on innocent civilians, amongst them women and children. We also pay tribute to all innocent lives lost during the conflict, both Palestinians and Israelis. Hamas, in our opinion an extreme right-wing Islamic organisation using terrorist methods, is damaging the just cause of the Palestinian people. Although nothing can justify... 10/10/2023 | 18:28:26 Thank you, Madam President. Dear Colleagues, The great threat of the far right is looming in Europe and beyond, gaining in strength and threatening the values and principles which were built on the ashes and the human victims of fascism and the far right eight decades ago. The growing popular support of the far right in almost all parts of the European continent cannot but deeply alarm us and prompt us to wage a constant and consistent battle against the ideology of hate, which is the worst... 22/06/2023 | 18:08:59 Thank you, Mister President. Dear Colleagues, I wish to thank our rapporteur, Mr Paul GAVAN, for his well, accurate, and thus impartial report. We fully support the findings and the recommendations made by Mr GAVAN and hope that this report is given serious consideration in order to guarantee human rights and ensure conditions of peace and security for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The current blockade of the Lachin corridor is putting thousands of people’s lives at risk, forcing them to...