08/09/2008 | President
“A first parliamentary debate on the conflict between Georgia and Russia took place during the meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Paris on 5 September. This meeting was exceptional in that it was attended by the representatives of Russia and Georgia, and in particular the heads of the two parliamentary delegations. The parliamentarians discussed the causes of the conflict, analysed the current situation and considered what role can be played by the Council of Europe, a European organisation of which both Russia and Georgia are full members.
29/08/2008 | President
Strasbourg, 29.08.2008 – PACE should hold a major debate on the Georgia-Russia conflict during its forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (29 September-3 October 2008), was the proposal unanimously agreed yesterday by the Assembly’s political group leaders. Meeting in Brussels, the Presidential Committee also proposed to send a nine-member, cross-party delegation of parliamentarians on a fact-finding visit to both countries ahead of the debate.
26/08/2008 | President
PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig has strongly condemned Russia’s recognition of the independence of the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “When it became a member of the Council of Europe, Russia promised to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours. With today’s announcement, that promise is in tatters,” the President said.
26/08/2008 | President
The Presidential Committee of PACE and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament is to meet in Brussels on 28 August to discuss current political issues – in particular the situation in the Caucasus and in Belarus – as well as migration and integration.
25/08/2008 | President
Lluís Maria de Puig, PACE President, today urged Russia to respect fully its commitments under the cease-fire agreement brokered by French President Sarkozy to end the conflict which recently erupted in Georgia. “This includes the immediate and total withdrawal of Russia’s troops from Georgia to positions before the outbreak of the hostilities”, said PACE President.
18/08/2008 | President
"Mr Kozulin, once the most prominent political prisoner in Belarus, is now a free man once more. I welcome his unconditional liberation and I express my sympathy for the suffering he has undergone during these years" said Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Lluís Maria de Puig commenting today on the release of Alexander Kozulin, opposition candidate in the 2006 presidential contest.
13/08/2008 | President
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Lluís Maria de Puig, expressed hope as he welcomed the acceptance by Georgia and Russia, both of which are member states of the Organisation and parties to the European Convention on Human Rights, of the ceasefire demanded by the international community. He said that PACE was awaiting the definitive ending of the state of war and the withdrawal of all troops, as announced by both governments, as well as free access to humanitarian aid.
13/08/2008 | President
Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE) attended the memorial service for Lord Russell-Johnston, which took place on 11 August in Inverness Cathedral. On this occasion, he delivered a speech on behalf of PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig.
11/08/2008 | President
PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig, has expressed deep concern about the large-scale military operations taking place between two Council of Europe member states, Georgia and Russia. According to Mr de Puig, the declaration of a state of war in Georgia unfortunately marks a new step in the current conflict in South Ossetia. He deplored the large numbers of casualties that had resulted from the recent clashes and expressed anxiety about Russian military action which far exceeded Russia's responsibilities under its peacekeeping mandate.
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.”