14/04/2011 Session
When opening the current affairs debate on “the situation in Northern Africa” this morning, Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC) said that when citizens were confronted with threats and were fighting a daily battle against poverty, unemployment and unpredictable security services, their dignity ultimately suffered, and that it was not surprising that revolutionary movements had emerged in certain Northern African countries. “Leaders should never treat their people with violence and these populations should be helped to live in dignity,” he said.
He also underlined the need to facilitate the democratic transition, establish a dialogue with them to create a more stable political climate, and endorse the legitimacy accorded to the United Nations.
Moreover, the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE has just appointed Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) to prepare a report on “Co-operation between the Council of Europe and emerging democracies in the Arab world”.