20/01/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“The whole region is facing decisions which call for considerable responsibility and risks which can be tackled only by courageous leadership. Pro-European leaders should demonstrate that they are prepared to take on responsibility”, PACE rapporteur on the situation in Kosovo*, Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), said today at the end of a two day visit to Belgrade.
17/01/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), Chairperson of the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE will pay a fact-finding visit to Belgrade on 19-20 January, in the framework of the preparation of his report on the situation in Kosovo. During his visit, he is due to meet the Speaker of the Parliament Slavica Djukić Dejanović, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, as well as the Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović.
15/12/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The authorities in Belarus are “deliberately turning their back on Europe and the values it upholds”, PACE Political Affairs Committee said today, giving its full backing to the EU’s targeted sanctions of the country. Approving a draft resolution and a draft recommendation, based on a report by Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), the committee expressed its “deep concern” at the deteriorating situation of human rights and civil and political liberties in the country.
14/12/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a draft Resolution adopted unanimously at a meeting in Paris today, PACE Political Affairs Committee stresses that the Council of Europe standard-setting, advisory and monitoring role should be appropriately reflected in the political documents of the Eastern Partnership of the EU (EaP) and the findings of its monitoring mechanisms fully taken into account.
30/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE rapporteurs on Belarus, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), and on the death penalty, Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD) have expressed their dismay at the death sentence handed down today on Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev by the Belarusian Supreme Court, which found them guilty of the fatal bombing in the Minsk Metro on 11 April 2011.
24/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“We consider that the trial and detention of Mr Bialiatski, held since 4 August 2011, amounts to judicial harassment of a human rights defender for carrying out legitimate human rights activities, protected under all international human rights instruments” stressed Mr Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP) and Ms Marieluise Beck (Germany, ALDE), PACE rapporteurs on Belarus, reacting to the sentence.
16/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE rapporteur for Belarus, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), is deeply concerned about the situation of Andrei Sannikov, former Presidential candidate, who has reportedly disappeared from a Belarusian penitentiary. On 14 May 2011, the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk sentenced Mr Sannikov to five years in a medium security penal colony. No information on his whereabouts and the circumstances of his disappearance was given to the family or to his lawyers.
15/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a statement adopted today at its meeting in Paris, the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), calls on the Iraqi authorities to prevent humanitarian disaster and human rights violations at Camp Ashraf: “The Committee is concerned about the situation of the residents of Camp Ashraf (also referred to as Camp New Iraq), who are at risk of facing violent expulsion by the Iraqi security forces..."
15/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Paris on 14-15 November 2011, today adopted the following statement: “On the first day of 2011 a suicide bombing in a Coptic church in Alexandria killed 21 persons and wounded 79. The Parliamentary Assembly condemned unequivocally such violence. We all hoped that, after the success of the Egyptian revolution, such tragedies would not be repeated..."
15/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), reaffirmed the universal nature of human rights, approving today in Paris a report by Denis Badré (France, ALDE) on the subject. According to the rapporteur, human rights can empower because they start with the individual: notably, the right to life, the principle of non-discrimination, the right to justice, a fair trial, protection against torture, the right to having an opinion, a faith.
04/11/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
A solution to the current stalemate in the North of Kosovo (*) lies in seeking a compromise, with all sides making concessions, said PACE’s rapporteur on the situation in Kosovo Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Kosovo. “A continued stand-off does not serve the medium or long-term interests of anyone involved,” said Mr von Sydow, speaking at a press conference today in Pristina.
29/10/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur on the “Request for Partner for Democracy status with PACE by the Parliament of Morocco”, expressed his concern about the announcement last night, by the anti-terrorist court of Salé (Morocco), of the sentencing to death of the main accused in the bombing that killed 17 people late April in Marrakech.