03/11/2011 | President
"In order to counteract the crisis of the mechanisms of representative democracy, we suggest exploring new mechanisms of participatory democracy in order to enable all to participate effectively in the conduct of public affairs at local, regional, national and European levels. This is necessary to boost social capital in our societies – reinforce trust in the political system as well as in the democratic decision-making process", PACE President said today in Kyiv addressing the students of the National University Taras Shevchenko.
27/10/2011 | President
PACE President met with the Speaker of Russia's Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, in Moscow today. "The Federation Council is a long-standing constructive partner and our co-operation has always been very fruitful," Mr Cavusoglu said. He also expressed PACE's support for ongoing reforms aiming at modernising Russia’s political system and strengthening the rule of law, in line with European democratic standards.
26/10/2011 | President
"Counterfeiting medicines is one of the most hideous crimes, as it preys on peoples’ weaknesses and vulnerability. Even worse, fake drugs can kill. This is why this Convention is only the first step in the right direction. We must ensure respect to the right to benefit from any measures enabling people to enjoy the highest possible standard of health attainable" PACE President said today in Moscow addressing the Conference on the occasion of the opening for signature of the CoE Medicrime Convention.
24/10/2011 | President
"The current political developments in the South Mediterranean represent a unique opportunity. An opportunity to ensure that gender equality is enshrined, once and for all, in the new constitutional and legal frameworks of these new democracies, including family law," the PACE President said today, addressing a conference in Rome on women as agents of change on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
24/10/2011 | President
Following yesterday’s earthquake in Turkey, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, PACE President, today made the following statement: “On behalf of the Council of Europe, we would like to express our profound sympathy to the people and government of the Republic of Turkey following the earthquake which hit the south east of the country on Sunday, one of the strongest in recent decades..."
21/10/2011 | President
At the end of a three-day official visit, the PACE President has welcomed Norway's permanent support for the work of the Assembly and the Council of Europe. "We have in your country a strong and solid partner," Mevlut Cavusoglu said. "Our Assembly values very much Oslo's support for activities in the field of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue," Mr Cavusoglu added, welcoming Norway's substantial contribution to the Organisation's co-operation programmes, both in terms of financial resources and expertise.
20/10/2011 | President
"Our Assembly and national parliaments have a responsibility for rapid and effective implementation of Strasbourg Court judgments", PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu said today adrssing the Norvegian Center for Human Rights in Oslo. "The Committee of Ministers, which holds the principal responsibility for the supervision of the execution of the Court’s judgments, has itself acknowledged the benefit of greater parliamentary involvement", he added.
19/10/2011 | President
“We are outraged by the terrorist attacks in south-east Turkey, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 26 Turkish soldiers. We condemn in the strongest terms the authors of these horrendous acts, as well as yesterday’s attack on police officers", declared today Konstyantyn Gryshchenko, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
18/10/2011 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu today welcomed the prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas as “good news”. "It is a sign, at a difficult time for the peace process, that sustained negotiations are possible and more effective than the continuation of a stalemate between Palestinians and Israelis," he said. The release of soldier Gilad Shalit was one of the key issues the Assembly said it would follow when it granted the Palestinian National Council ‘Partner for democracy’ status on 4 October 2011.
18/10/2011 | President
“It is no longer acceptable to make excuses when it comes to ratification of the European Social Charter,” said PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking today at a ceremony in Strasbourg to mark the Charter’s 50th anniversary. “All human beings have basic rights, and these include health, employment and the right to be ‘free from want’,” he pointed out.
18/10/2011 | President
“A truly intercultural model of 'living together', which allows culturally different groups within society to interact, is the most effective response to intolerance, extremism and xenophobia - the worst evils our societies have to face today,” said the PACE President today, addressing the 21st Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. “As the Assembly and the Congress have stated on numerous occasions, dialogue, integration and interaction between different communities start at local level,” he said.
14/10/2011 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu will make an official visit to Norway from 19 to 21 October. During his visit, he is due to meet the President of the Storting – Norwegian Parliament – Dag Terje Andersen and the leaders of political groups as well as the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. He will hold an exchange of views with the members of the Storting Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and with the Norwegian delegation to PACE.