15/01/2008 | President
"I praise the strong commitment of the Turkish authorities to continuing democratic reforms," declared PACE President René van der Linden, at the end of his official visit to Turkey (Ankara and Konya) from 13 to 15 January 2008. "The parliamentary and presidential elections in 2007 confirmed the stability of Turkish democracy and resulted in a more pluralistic and representative Parliament with an increased participation of women and MPs from the South-East of Turkey," said the President.
11/01/2008 | President
PACE President René van der Linden will pay an official visit to Turkey from 13 to 16 January 2008 and will meet the country’s most senior authorities, in particular the President of the Republic, Abdullah Gül, and the President of the Grand National Assembly, Köksal Toptan. He is also due to meet the State Minister for Economic Affairs, Mehmet Simsek, the Chair of the EU Harmonisation Committee, Yasar Yakis, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Murat Mercan, and the Governor and the Mayor of Konya.
04/01/2008 | President
PACE President René van der Linden condemned the terrorist attack in Diyarbakir yesterday, which killed four people and injured scores of others. “I extend my sincere condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims and injured. This attack marks a tragic return to violence in the southeastern part of Turkey. Even though the perpetrators and their masters have not yet been identified, it is clear that such acts will neither contribute to a climate of dialogue, nor to a solution of remaining problems, on which recent years have seen substantial progress".
02/01/2008 | President
PACE President René van der Linden on 27 December condemned the shameful assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. "This terrorist act is a clear attack on democratic elections in Pakistan. I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Bhutto and the people of Pakistan. Her assassination reminds us all that terrorism must be combated internationally by establishing international political and legal co-operation against terrorists while respecting the rule of law and fighting the causes of terrorism", Mr van der Linden said.
21/12/2007 | President
Opposition must not be considered as an enemy, but as an integral part of every democratic society,” declared René van der Linden, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), during his visit to Moscow from 19 to 21 December 2007. Following the critical evaluation by PACE observers of the recent parliamentary elections, the PACE President urged the Russian authorities to take seriously into consideration the conclusions and recommendations of the observers and make substantial improvements before the forthcoming presidential elections, in particular as regards the registration of candidates and fair access of all candidates to the media. PACE intends to observe these elections and I expect that PACE will be invited, Mr van der Linden added.
19/12/2007 | President
“The world community – as embodied by the UN General Assembly – has spoken: nobody should be put to death as a legal sanction,” said PACE President René van der Linden, reacting to yesterday’s vote calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. “This has been the position of Greater Europe for some years now, and I am happy that the rest of the globe is moving in this direction. The Italian authorities are to be congratulated for their zeal in bringing this vote about.”
18/12/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden will make an official visit to Russia from 19 to 22 December 2007. In Moscow, he will notably meet with the Speaker of Russia's Federation Council, Sergey Mironov, the Speaker of the State Duma, Boris Gryzlov, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev (to be confirmed), and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergeï Lavrov. He will also have talks with the leaders of the political groups in the State Duma, as well as with representatives of the opposition not represented in the Parliament.
10/12/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today welcomed the unanimous decision by the Ministers of Justice of the European Union (EU) to establish a “European Day against the Death Penalty” on the 10th October each year. “This unanimous vote, made possible by the change of government in Poland, sends out a very clear message beyond our borders to other parts of the world, which should follow the European example”, said René van der Linden, pointing out that the 47 Council of Europe member states formed a death-penalty-free area.
10/12/2007 | President
"The Council of Europe, the contintent’s human rights watchdog, is indispensable. And its aims are, clearly, nowhere near being fully realised. The Assembly’s recent report on CIA renditions and secret detentions in Europe showed that the Council of Europe does not apply double standards, and that it is willing and able to criticise violations committed in any of our member states, said PACE President René van der Linden.
05/12/2007 | President
"Mexico is a valuable partner for the Council of Europe as regards the promotion of the organisation's fundamental values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law beyond the European continent", declared René van der Linden at the end of his official visit to Mexico (Mexico City and Monterrey, 30 November - 4 December 2007).
30/11/2007 | President
Following the execution of police officer Alyaksandr Syarheychyk, announced by the Supreme Court of Belarus [according to Belapan News Agency], PACE President said: “I’m appalled by this execution. Such a barbaric act took place on the very same day that I called on President Lukashenko to commute the death sentences handed down on three other persons. Belarus is the only European country executing people, and the only European State non- member of the Council of Europe. This execution shows that Minsk is not willing to move closer towards the values shared by all other European countries”, Mr van der Linden said.
29/11/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden will make an official visit to Mexico from 29 November to 5 December. In Mexico City and Monterrey he will meet the country's highest authorities, including the President of the Republic, Felipe Calderón, Speaker of the Senate, Santiago Creel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Patricia Espinosa, as well as representatives of regional and local authorities, religious leaders, representatives of NGOs and a student representative.