07/08/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today deplored the arrest by the Israeli Army of the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Aziz Dweik, and called for his immediate release. "The Palestinian Legislative Council is a democratically elected parliamentary body that derives its legitimacy from elections held in January this year, which the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe who observed them declared were conducted 'in a well organised and democratic fashion'.
03/08/2006 | News
In a letter sent to the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, PACE President René van der Linden expressed his deep concern at the proposal to reintroduce the death penalty in Europe. "Restoration of the death penalty would constitute a flagrant breach of a country’s obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights, which enshrines the fundamental values of the Council of Europe. Its reintroduction would thus be completely incompatible with membership of our organisation. I can assure you that, given the extreme gravity of this issue, the Parliamentary Assembly will continue to follow developments closely. In the light of these concerns, I hope that you will now see fit to reconsider your position and to retract your proposal”, Mr van der Linden wrote.
02/08/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today deplored the deaths of innocent civilians on all sides and called for an immediate halt to the fighting in the Middle East. “The continuing disproportionate use of force by Israel, in particular indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, is completely unacceptable and in violation of the most basic norms of international law. Such a policy only plays into the hands of the terrorists and their extremist supporters,” the President said.
31/07/2006 | News
René van der Linden yesterday concluded a working visit to the port of Odessa in southern Ukraine. During his visit, he held discussions with the new Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, O. Moroz, the head of the Oblast Council, M. Skoryk and the Mayor of Odessa, E. Gurvits. The main topic of these discussions was the need to secure and further develop Ukraine's progress in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Particular attention was paid to the importance of appointing a strong and stable national government, committed to promptly and fully implementing Ukraine's obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe; and to effectively upholding the rule of law, including through full cooperation with the EU Border Assistance Mission, responsible for supporting national controls along the border between Ukraine and Moldova, and effective investigation of crimes committed under former regimes, notably the Gongadze case.
27/07/2006 | News
Referring to the situation in Transnistria during his speech before a plenary session of the Moldovan Parliament, PACE President today stressed that the Council of Europe was the ideal forum for mediation and reconciliation. “I encourage you to use the Assembly’s potential for parliamentary diplomacy, to work towards rapprochement and to engage in dialogue. I know that your delegation has already shown its willingness to address the issue of Transnistria in this context, and I am confident that a format acceptable to all sides will soon be found,” the President said.
24/07/2006 | News
The functioning of democratic institutions in Moldova, the situation in Transnistria and the promotion of intercultural and inter-faith dialogue are some of the issues which René van der Linden will be addressing during his official visit to Moldova from 26 to 28 July 2006. The visit follows an invitation from the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Marian Lupu, with whom Mr van der Linden will be holding talks on Wednesday 26 July.
20/07/2006 | News
Romania’s preparations to join the EU and the fight against corruption, as well as inter-religious dialogue, are among issues to be raised by PACE President during a visit to Romania from 23 to 25 July 2006. He will also discuss the political situation in the region, before continuing on an official visit to Moldova. Mr van der Linden is due to meet the Vice-President of the Romanian Senate Alexandru Peres and Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu as well as members of the Romanian delegation to PACE. In Iasi, he will meet Bishop Petru Gherghel and will visit the monasteries at Moldovita and Voronet.
13/07/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today urged Serbian parliamentarians to counter rising nationalism and political radicalisation by focusing on ensuring the well-being of citizens. “It is important you deliver to your citizens what concerns them most: jobs, social security, education and health care,” he said during an exchange of views with the Serbian Parliament’s Committee of European Integration in Belgrade. In meetings yesterday with Serbian leaders, the President also raised the question of Serbia’s six-month Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in May 2007, which he described as “an opportunity” for the country.
13/07/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden has welcomed the change of heart on Belarus by the EU Presidency, which said yesterday that its policy of isolating Belarus has not worked. "As I have said before, even if we have profound differences with Belarus – the only European country that does not merit membership of the Council of Europe – I believe the only way to improve things is through dialogue," said Mr van der Linden. "The Finnish Presidency of the 25-nation EU and the Russian Presidency of the 46-nation Council of Europe can work together to foster that dialogue. Furthermore, I am ready to go to Belarus if it will help this country on its path to democracy."
30/06/2006 | News
The Assembly today called on European governments to prohibit changes in the use of fire-damaged mountain areas or woodland and extend bans on construction in burnt areas to a minimum of 30 years. Alarmed by the increase in forest fires (more than 12 million hectares went up in flames in the last 15 years in Europe), the parliamentarians listed some twenty prevention measures that could reverse this trend.
30/06/2006 | News
Academic freedom and university autonomy is “a fundamental requirement of any democratic society” and should be made a condition of Council of Europe membership, the Assembly said today. Universities should be independent of governments and free to choose how best to serve society, it said in a resolution. PACE also backed the Magna Charta Universitatum, a 1988 document setting out principles of academic freedom which has been signed by some 600 universities around the world.
29/06/2006 | News
Walter Schmied, Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, today awarded the 2006 European Diplomas - part of the Europe Prize - to the mayors of the prize-winning local authorities. Mr Schmied said he welcomed the enthusiasm shown by European local authorities taking part in the ceremony: twenty-two mayors from eight European countries have travelled to Strasbourg. He stressed that "the Diploma not only acknowledges the work done at European level by the prize-winning municipalities but also serves as an incentive to develop it further through contacts with twin towns and other European partners".