08/08/2008 | President
On the opening day of the Beijing Olympics, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig said that the Games offered China a unique opportunity to promote respect for fundamental freedoms in the country. He drew attention on this occasion to the resolution adopted by the Assembly on 26 June 2008, which encourages China to implement far-reaching reforms regarding respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
08/08/2008 | President
On behalf of PACE, its President, Lluís Maria de Puig, has issued an urgent call for an immediate end to all violence in South Ossetia. "I appeal for calm and call on all the parties to do everything in their power to prevent any further violence", said the President. Saying that he was deeply worried about this worsening of the conflict, he deplored the large number of civilian casualties.
30/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig today welcomed the decision of Turkey’s Constitutional Court not to apply the extreme measure of closing down the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, but regretted its decision to partially deprive it of state aid. “Such a sanction risks introducing an element of discrimination with regard to a party which plays a key role on the Turkish political scene,” the President said. “Turkey can now regain political stability and step up urgently-needed economic and political reforms, including the elaboration of an altogether new, civilian constitution, in line with repeated Assembly calls. The Council of Europe, in particular through its Venice Commission, stands ready to help the Turkish government in such an endeavour.”
28/07/2008 | President
At the end of a two-day visit to Armenia on 23 and 24 July, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig said he was heartened that the highest authorities, including the President of Armenia, clearly expressed their political will to fully implement PACE Resolutions 1609 and 1620. However, these promises should now be followed by clear and concrete measures that the authorities are serious about their compliance with the requirements of the Assembly, declared the President of PACE. This is especially important with respect to the independent inquiry into the events on 1 and 2 March as well as the release of persons detained in relation to these events.
28/07/2008 | President
PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig, today strongly condemned the double bombing in Istanbul last night, which according to first estimates left 16 dead and 154 injured. No cause in the world can justify such an odious act, carefully premeditated to kill innocent persons, he said. There is no place in society for terrorists, Mr de Puig continued. I am convinced that this opinion is shared, not just by the whole of Turkish society, but by all those who subscribe to the community of values represented by the Council of Europe.
28/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig today expressed his deepest sadness and sorrow at the death of Lord Russell-Johnston, a former President of the Parliamentary Assembly from 1999 to 2002 and a member for twenty-three years, as well as leader of the Liberal Group from 1994 to 1999, and extended his condolences to his family. “It is a sad day for all defenders of justice, peace and humanity. He leaves a great void in the hearts of all Europeans who had the privilege of crossing his path. His passion for European politics and his sense of friendship will always remain”, Lluis Maria de Puig said. "We need moralpolitik, not realpolitik, was the message that guided him through his longstanding political career."
22/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig this morning welcomed the arrest of the former political leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic. "Now justice can at last be done. The memory of thousands of victims of the Srebrenica massacre, the siege of Sarajevo and many other atrocities can at last be honoured. I would like to pay sincere tribute to all these victims. This arrest sends out a clear, unequivocal signal of the determination of the Belgrade authorities to bind Serbia ever more closely to the European institutions. We are receiving this message loud and clear in Strasbourg, and I am sure Brussels will take account of this fact very practically and very quickly. This is a great day for the future of Serbia."
18/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig is to make an official visit to Armenia from 22 to 25 July to deepen co-operation between Armenia and the Assembly and to promote implementation of the Assembly’s Resolutions 1609 and 1620. He intends to assess, in particular, the credibility of the enquiry into the events on 1-2 March, and will urgently raise the issue of people detained in connection with these events.
09/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig has ended a four-day official visit to Moldova with an appeal to the authorities to accelerate reforms and put in place a “democratic culture” to fulfil their promise to hold free and fair elections next year. In an address to the Moldovan Parliament yesterday, the President pledged the Assembly’s ongoing help – in particular through its monitoring procedure – with this process.
03/07/2008 | President
October’s Presidential election in Azerbaijan must demonstrate the country’s commitment to democratic reforms, according to PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig, speaking at the end of an official visit to the country (1-3 July 2008). The President also took note of the authorities’ commitment to put in place conditions which would enable the coming Presidential election to be free and democratic.
03/07/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig today welcomed the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages with great pleasure and relief. “On behalf of the Assembly, I should like to convey to Ms Betancourt and her family our happiness, our friendship and our full solidarity after so many years in captivity. Her commitment, courage and dignity remain an example for the many hostages still held, and for all of us. Her release is a victory for freedom. I encourage the Colombian government to continue to make every effort to have all the hostages freed, and I again call on the FARC to release the many people they have been holding for much too long”.
30/06/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig will be making an official visit to Azerbaijan from 1 to 3 July 2008. He is scheduled to meet, among others, the President of the Republic, Ilham Aliyev, the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis (Parliament), Ogtay Asadov, the Prime Minister, Artur Rasizade, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov.