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PACE President responds to criticism following his recent visit to Cyprus

04/11/2010 | President

PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has written to the Speaker of the Cyprus House of Representatives Marios Garoyian expressing surprise at his reported suggestion that he was “misled” over the President’s planned visit to the northern part of the island. Mr Çavusoglu was in Cyprus from 31 October to 2 November.

PACE President remains deeply concerned over Ashtiani case in Iran

03/11/2010 | President

“I wish to add my voice to those calling on Iran not to execute Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani,” PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu said today in a statement. “While fears of an immediate execution now seem to have lessened, I am deeply concerned that her life remains under threat.” “I note Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki’s reported statement today that a final verdict in Ashtiani’s case has not yet been reached, and once again appeal for her release.”

PACE President hails 60 years of Human Rights Convention, looks to the future

03/11/2010 | President

The European Convention on Human Rights has helped to build a Europe united from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, and now faces a new chapter in its history with EU accession and reform of the Court, PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has said. Speaking at a...

PACE President calls for more progress in the Cyprus negotiations

02/11/2010 | President

PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has welcomed the continued negotiations between the leaders of the two Cypriot communities under UN auspices, and called on both parties to show “political courage and firm determination to find a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for a peaceful and united Cyprus”, one which would guarantee the legitimate rights of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots in full compliance with the values and principles of the Council of Europe.

PACE President makes official visit to Cyprus

29/10/2010 | President

PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu is to make an official visit to Cyprus from 31 October to 2 November. On 1 November, he will meet among others President Demetris Christofias, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, and the Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou. On 2 November, Mr Çavusoglu will hold meetings in the northern part of the island. The same day he will attend a joint meeting with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II, and with the head of religious affairs of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mehmet Emin Yeltekin.

PACE President urges Congress to continue work on environment and good governance

27/10/2010 | President

In his speech before the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg today, the PACE President stressed once again the need for reform of the Council of Europe. “Our Organisation needs to become more pro-active, more relevant and closer to the needs and aspirations of our fellow Europeans,” he said.

PACE President: "We should not hide behind populist rhetoric"

26/10/2010 | President

"Extremist populist parties have sought to capitalise on society's security concerns by simply equating immigration with crime and insecurity. In an attempt to regain the support of the electorate, mainstream political parties are picking up some of the radical, xenophobic and discriminatory language of extremist parties. This is an extremely worrying trend.

PACE President: 'Discrimination against Roma is just the tip of the iceberg'

25/10/2010 | President

“The issue of discrimination against Roma is just the tip of the iceberg. Extremist populist parties have sought to capitalise on society's security concerns by simply equating immigration with crime and insecurity. In an attempt to regain the support of the electorate, mainstream political parties are picking up some of the radical, xenophobic and discriminatory language of extremist parties. This is an extremely worrying trend. We should not hide behind populist rhetoric,” said Mevlüt Çavusoglu today, addressing the students of the Maastricht School of Management during his visit to the Netherlands.

Roma: Council of Europe should co-ordinate measures and help avoid duplication

20/10/2010 | President

Speaking at the High-level meeting on Roma in Strasbourg today, the PACE President declared that in the Assembly’s view “there should be no shirking of responsibility: education, employment, social inclusion, health services and housing are almost entirely national responsibilities”.

PACE President reacts to attack on Chechen Parliament

19/10/2010 | President

“I am shocked and angered to learn of this morning’s terrorist attack in Grozny,” said Mevlüt Çavusoglu, the President of PACE. “Those who carried it out must be utterly condemned: no cause justifies this extreme and deadly violence. This was all the more shocking because it targeted a parliament, the symbol of the people. I offer my sincere condolences and solidarity to the families of those who died while carrying out their duty to protect the deputies," he added.

PACE President urges governments not to cut education budgets

14/10/2010 | President

"In times of crisis, many governments are tempted to cut education budgets. However, this is a false saving, one which will be paid for dearly in the future," said PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu, speaking today in Moscow at the opening of an international symposium on Education in Europe – for harmonious development of students. "For this reason, the Assembly has called for education policies to be developed to face these challenges and invited the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to strengthen education in the organisation's work programme," he said.

PACE President’s lecture at Moscow State Institute of International Relations

13/10/2010 | President

In his address at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations today, the PACE President stressed that Russia’s influence in the Council of Europe was substantial and that relations with Russia had a particular importance for the Organisation. "The decision of Russia to join the Council of Europe 14 years ago was, and still is, a clear choice to share our common values," he said.