30/09/2009 | Session
“In April 2009, the Russian Government announced the end of the operations in Chechnya. Now, however, the entire region is beset by violence,” said Dick Marty (Switzerland, ALDE) today at the start of the current affairs debate on the situation of human rights defenders and the increasing violence in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation. According to Mr Marty, it is above all the general climate of impunity at all levels which has prevailed in the region for many years that has generated an atmosphere conducive to the spread of violence. “There can be no justice without truth and no peace without justice,” he added.
30/09/2009 | Session
PACE today expressed concern about the generally deteriorating state of OECD member countries’ public finances, with debt ratios in some that have reached “record and unsustainable levels”. States should return their economies to a sound footing to better withstand future crises, the parliamentarians said.
30/09/2009 | Session
“Balanced participation in politics by women and men is vital if democracy and society are to function more smoothly, and political parties have a key role to play here,” said Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the Assembly, at the award ceremony for the PACE’s 2009 Gender Equality Prize. “However, parity is still a long way off,” he added. “As far as the Assembly is concerned, there was only one woman when it was set up and now only 27% of its members are women.”
30/09/2009 | Session
OECD Secretary General at the Assembly today, said "although the global economy seemed to be stabilising, this didn’t mean that the crisis was over." "Our biggest challenges lie ahead," he said. "But we can and must reactivate economic growth and employment, plan carefully and coordinate our recovery strategies, to make sure that this kind of crisis will never happen again."
29/09/2009 | Session
Before the end of this year, Russia should allow EU monitors into South Ossetia and Abkhazia, lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid to the two regions and let Georgian civilians move freely across the boundary lines, PACE demanded today. Debating the war between Georgia and Russia a year on, the Assembly deplored there had been “little tangible progress” in addressing the consequences of the war – and said that in several areas, the situation had actually regressed.
29/09/2009 | Session
"Music is essential for young people education in the European project", mentioned the distinguished conductor Kurt Masur, intervening at the Assembly on 29 September. The former music director of the New York Philharmonic stressed the importance of art and culture as integration instruments and curriculum development for the Council of Europe member states education policies.
29/09/2009 | Session
Art can usefully reinforce formal education, according to the Assembly. That is why cultural and artistic means of education should become an essential part of formal education, in particular at school level. Following the proposals of the rapporteur (Christine Muttonen, Austria, SOC), the Assembly today invited the Council of Europe member and observer states to support research with a view to establishing national strategies for cultural education at school and as part of informal education and lifelong learning. Cultural education through qualified arts teachers and artists, they said, should be mandatory at school.
29/09/2009 | Session
PACE believes that the United Nations Conference on Climate Change to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009, should result in an agreement giving priority to equity and social justice. While the Assembly recognises the need to reach agreement in Copenhagen on a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for each country – at least 50% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels – it supports, in a resolution adopted today, an equitable and differentiated approach that takes due account of a country’s population, industrial development and poverty.
29/09/2009 | Session
The Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) addressed today the Parliamentary Assembly highlighting the relevance of climate change. The Indian expert focused on the global warming effects and on the role of the international community gathering in Copenhagen in December.
29/09/2009 | Session
PACE today elected Thorbjørn Jagland (Norway) Secretary General of the Organisation for a five-year term. In the first round of the election, Thorbjørn Jagland obtained 165 votes (an absolute majority) and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland) 80 votes. There were 245 votes cast. Mr Jagland has been President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) since 2005 and Member of Parliament for Buskerud County since 1993. Thorbjørn Jagland will be sworn in as Secretary General on 1 October 2009.
29/09/2009 | Session
PACE today elected Thorbjørn Jagland (Norway) Secretary General of the Organisation for a five-year term. In the first round of the election, Thorbjørn Jagland obtained 165 votes (an absolute majority) and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland) 80 votes. There were 245 votes cast. Mr Jagland has been President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) since 2005 and Member of Parliament for Buskerud County since 1993. Thorbjørn Jagland will be sworn in as Secretary General on 1 October 2009.
29/09/2009 | Session
Speaking today at the Assembly, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Slovenia and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, announced that an agreement has been reached on a package of measures to enhance dialogue and co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers. "I believe that it is of vital importance that the two statutory bodies of our Organisation stand united to promote the values and principles of the Council of Europe," he said. The agreement covers a series of measures, including the review of the future election procedures and immediate action for improving dialogue and co-operation in general.