18/04/2024 | 18:52:56 I've been following the discussion. I'd like to start by telling you that all the events, all the information that has been recorded by colleagues, also by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He said recently, and I quote him that "the war in Gaza is a war that has caused the most loss of lives compared to all conflicts that are today". That means that the war in Gaza has caused huge suffering, huge hunger. He said a number of other things. In response to Ms Meirav BEN ARI and other... 18/04/2024 | 16:31:24 Thank you, Madam Chair. Allow me to start by thanking our rapporteur, Ms Thórhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, for her significant work on this report. Dear colleagues, AI is no longer a futuristic idea: it is a present-day reality. Because of its profound impact across every sector of our societies, we must be responsive not only to the opportunities and benefits, but also to the significant risks and challenges generated by the use of AI technology. Indeed, the misuse of these technologies can... 18/04/2024 | 11:44:58 Thank you, Mister Chair, dear colleagues. I would like to thank our rapporteurs for their diligent work on this matter of utmost importance. The fact that this issue comes today before the Assembly, just a few weeks after the historic decision of the European Court on Human Rights is indeed a very welcome development. The Court's decision against the State of Switzerland ruled that under human rights law, member states are legally obliged to meet their climate-related targets and ensure the... 16/04/2024 | 18:48:50 Thank you, Mister President, Allow me to start by thanking our esteemed colleague Ms Dora BAKOYANNIS for the opinion that she presented to us today. Dear colleagues, When discussing Ms Dora BAKOYANNIS' positive opinion on Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe we should ask ourselves: under the present circumstances, will making Kosovo a member state of the Council of Europe serve the purpose of peace, stability, and security on our European continent? Will the European perspective of... 25/01/2024 | 19:38:47 Thank you, Mister Chair, Allow me first to congratulate our rapporteurs for their excellent work. Dear colleagues, Safeguarding the freedom of the press and an independent and pluralistic media is vital for a strong functioning democracy. Any form of restriction, control, or manipulation is a clear violation of the basic human right to freedom of expression and information. The number of cases that threaten media freedom is steadily rising in Europe, including an increase in smear campaigns... 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...