09/04/2019 | 17:08:45 Honourable members of the Assembly, the report is reassuring on the subject of enhancing dialogue between the European Union and the Council of Europe, and I commend the rapporteur. Coming from a country that is under the influence of growing populism and authoritarianism, I underline that my party, the Republican People’s Party, insists that the Council of Europe’s position be the benchmark for human rights, the rule of law, and democracy in Europe. My country is gradually being deprived of... 23/01/2019 | 17:54:13 The Internet and social media play an important role in our everyday life and are becoming the dominant governing forces affecting our activities. Certainly, such an environment presents serious challenges, as several members have mentioned. Possible abuses of the right to freedom of expression and information on the Internet include the resorting to narratives of hatred and violence, child abuse, manipulation of information and propaganda, as well as incitement to terrorist activities. In... 23/01/2019 | 10:55:58 First and foremost, I express my appreciation of the rapporteurs of both reports, which are very relevant to the current circumstances that most member countries of the Council face. I also express my gratitude to my former colleague, Ms Gülsün BİLGEHAN, who is absent, for her excellent work as a member of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media. She has been able to produce a balanced and exemplary report despite coming from a country that unfortunately fails to be a... 21/01/2019 | 18:51:36 We have had a long and complex debate today, discussing various issues from Georgia to Armenia and the Russian Federation to Ukraine, as well as Turkey. None of these issues is irrelevant to our endeavours in the Council of Europe, yet I sometimes wonder whether we are getting involved in an egocentric effort and failing to pay attention to other geographical areas where there is serious injustice, violence, unlawfulness, and unmerciful civil war, costing tens of thousands of lives of women...