30/08/2007 | President
At the end of today’s joint meeting between the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament (EP) and the ad hoc Committee of the Chairpersons of Political Groups (Presidential Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), it was agreed that the good functioning of the European Court on Human Rights is in the best interests of all European citizens and that the question of its financing should be of joint concern.
24/08/2007 | President
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), René van der Linden concluded his official visit to the Middle East (18-24 August) by the Palestinian Territories (23-24 August) inviting President Mahmoud Abbas to address PACE. In his talks with René van der Linden, President Abbas stressed that security problems in the Palestinian Territories could only be overcome through cooperation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He fully supported the role of religious leaders and of inter-religious dialogue as a complement to the political process. He finally said he was ready to work, alongside Israel, with the Council of Europe to eradicate incitement to hatred from school books and the media.
23/08/2007 | President
At the end of his three-day visit to Israel, PACE President René van der Linden stressed that PACE would remain committed to helping support the peace process. In his talks with President Shimon Peres, who has twice addressed PACE in the past (in 1986 and 2002), the latter expressed his respect for the Assembly, which he says “represents the views of all Europe” and welcomed its contribution to the Middle East peace process. According to the PACE President, Mr Peres remains optimistic about both political and economic perspectives.
23/08/2007 | President
Following his statement concerning an execution in Texas, PACE President René van der Linden today also strongly condemned the execution of three death row inmates in Japan. He expressed regret that according to the information available, current Justice Minister Jinen Nagase has signed the execution orders for ten death row inmates since taking office and did not pursue the direction taken by his predecessor, Seiken Sugiura, who refused to sign the orders during his term, thus ending a de facto moratorium.
23/08/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden, and as such representing a 47-nation “death-penalty-free zone” in Europe, strongly condemned today’s execution of Johnny Ray Conner in Texas. “This 400th execution since Texas resumed the death penalty in 1982, after an 18-year moratorium, is a macabre milestone in the state’s history,” Mr van der Linden said.
20/08/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today ended an official visit to Jordan by expressing his hope that the revived Arab peace initiative and a possible US-sponsored conference would “create new opportunities and a momentum for peace” in the region, which all agreed depended above all on a resolution of the Palestinian problem. Speaking following a private audience with King Abdullah II, as well as meetings with the Jordanian Prime Minister and the heads of both Houses of Parliament, the President also said there was general agreement that Europe should play “a stronger role” in the Middle East peace process.
16/08/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden is to make an official visit to the Middle East from 18-24 August 2007 with the aim of encouraging opportunities presented by the current situation to achieve sustainable peace in the region and to promote inter-religious dialogue. He will visit Jordan (18-20 August), Israel (20-22 August) and the Palestinian Territories (23-24 August).
31/07/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today ended a week-long visit to Russia, during which he met Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov to discuss preparations for Russia's 2008 presidential elections, the non-ratification of Protocol No 14 and Russia’s relations with neighbouring countries, the European Union and NGOs. The President also met Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who is to address the Assembly at its next plenary session.
24/07/2007 | President
“The Bulgarian medics can now see the light at the end of the tunnel” said PACE President René van der Linden following the transfer of the Bulgarian medics to their home country. He praised diplomatic efforts taken by his European colleagues. “While being relieved by this transfer and the fact that the medics' trauma is now over, I am still deeply concerned by the situation in Libya which led to a humanitarian tragedy and the deprival of the liberty of the innocent medics for 8 years. The Libyan authorities must now tackle as a matter of urgency the problem of their derelict health system” he said.
18/07/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today travelled to Paris to meet with the President of the French National Assembly, Bernard Accoyer, as well as with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Rama Yade. Mr van der Linden met also with members of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly.
17/07/2007 | President
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President René van der Linden today said he was shocked by the assasination, this morning in Istanbul, of Tuncay Seyranlioglu, an independent candidate running in the 22 July parliamentary elections in Turkey. "I wish to extend my condolences, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly, to the family of the victim. Such a barbaric act must not undermine the will of the Turkish people to organise under the best possible conditions next Sunday's parliamentary elections and to demonstrate their sense of responsibility for the future of the country," Mr van der Linden declared.
09/07/2007 | President
Lasting prosperity and sustainable development are not possible without respecting the fundamental values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, declared René van der Linden, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, at the end of his visit to Azerbaijan on 8-9 July 2007. The President stressed, in particular, the importance of free and fair elections which are the basis of every democratic system. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that the 2008 presidential elections take place in accordance with Council of Europe (CoE) standards and mark a striking difference with the 2005 parliamentary elections.