29/09/2008 | Session
"We strongly believe that alternatives of peaceful settlement were not exhausted in the case of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," said Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, in his address to the Assembly on 29 September. He stated that the flexible models of regional autonomy constituted a sound alternative to conflict and specifically referred to the new European Charter of Regional Democracy which could be used in settling territorial disputes.
29/09/2008 | Session
In his address to the Assembly on 29 September, Jorge Sampaio, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations stressed that fostering dialogue is the only sure way to counter extremism and build cross-cultural and inter-religious understanding. Conceding that there was no quick fix to eliminate the world’s imbalances, tensions and sources of conflict, he called for greater unity to make "the world a better place to live in."
29/09/2008 | Session
Adopting the final agenda of its Autumn session this morning, PACE decided to hold an urgent debate on the consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia. The debate will be in two parts: it will start on the morning of Tuesday 30 September and resume on Thursday 2 October. The vote will take place late in the afternoon. The parliamentarians also decided to debate the reconsideration of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation on substantial grounds on the afternoon of Wednesday 1 October.
29/09/2008 | Session
Referring to the crisis between Georgia and Russia at the opening of the PACE Autumn Session, its President, Lluis Maria de Puig, said today that "the Council of Europe must spare no criticism and must condemn all that it considers to be a violation of its principles and values with the utmost firmness". However, he went on to say, "We must, in particular, look to the future and show prudence and political vision, for we are all aware that the conflict between Georgia and Russia is fraught with consequences, not only for both countries but for the entire region".
29/09/2008 | Session
The Assembly today elected, at the opening of its Autumn 2008 Session, two new Vice-Presidents: Juan Fernando López Aguilar, for Spain, and Luigi Vitali, for Italy.
18/09/2008 | Session
An urgent debate on the consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia will be the main focus of PACE's autumn session, to be held in Strasbourg from 29 September to 3 October 2008. The debate will be in two parts: it starts on the morning of Tuesday 30 September and resumes on the morning of Thursday 2 October. As part of the run-up to the debate, an ad hoc committee will conduct a fact-finding visit to Georgia and Russia from 22 to 25 September. Another highlight of the session will be the debate on the situation in Cyprus, on Wednesday 1 October. Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus, will address the Assembly on Tuesday 30 September, the day before the debate, and Mehmet Ali Talat, Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community, will do so on 1 October.
12/09/2008 | Session
A group of twenty-four members of the PACE today submitted a request for the reconsideration of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation to PACE “on substantive grounds”, ahead of the Assembly’s forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (29 September-3 October).
27/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly has invited Turkey to take a “positive attitude” to ethnic Greeks still living on the Aegean islands of Gökçeada (Imbros) and Bozcaada (Tenedos) in order to preserve their bicultural character – pointing out that this “could serve as a model for co-operation between Turkey and Greece”. The islands – inhabited mostly by ethnic Greeks since antiquity, according to rapporteur Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC) – have been governed by the Turkish Republic since 1922. In its resolution, PACE suggests ways of settling outstanding education, land and cultural heritage issues.
27/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly today invited member states to frame a proactive policy to prevent the abandonment of newborn babies, and recommends in particular ante-natal and post-natal medical and social support and appropriate financial assistance for pregnant women and for fathers, and accessible reception facilities. In an adopted resolution, PACE considers that respect for the rights of children to live with their families and find out about their origins is an inviolable principle that must be included in all family policies, and that member states should therefore urge mothers to give their identity, even if it is appropriate to introduce protected forms of childbirth offering some confidentiality for the mother.
27/06/2008 | Session
In his speech to the Assembly, Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said fighting terrorism whilst respecting human dignity and rights ''is a long term investment in security.'' He also highlighted the role to be played by the Assembly in the fight against terrorism.
27/06/2008 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, PACE has invited member states to give active support to the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the field of international humanitarian law aimed at assisting states to accede to and implement humanitarian treaties. The Assembly also encourages member states to support the ICRC's future objectives with regard to protection activities, the prevention of enforced disappearances and assistance to civilian victims of landmines and cluster munitions.
26/06/2008 | Session
Underlying the importance of “effective separation of powers”, PACE today called on Turkey’s institutions “to respect each other’s competences” and join efforts to pursue political reforms that will turn the country into a modern democracy. Following the proposals by the rapporteur, Luc Van den Brande (Belgium, EPP/CD), the parliamentarians said that, regardless of its outcome, the lawsuit against the ruling party, as well as the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic, “is seriously affecting political stability in the country” and the functioning of democratic institutions. The dissolution of political parties, they said, “should be regarded as an exceptional measure to be applied only in cases where the party concerned uses violence or threatens civil peace and the democratic constitutional order.”