22/06/2005 | Session
PACE today urged Russia to improve its democracy, calling for more power for the Russian parliament, pluralist and impartial broadcasting and normal conditions for civil society. In a reference to the reforms of Autumn 2004, the Assembly declared: “In order for democracy to function properly, power must not only be vertically reinforced but also horizontally shared.” While acknowledging that the authorities had to deal with serious problems which threatened the country – such as terrorism, corruption or irregular privatisations which led to oligarchic control – the parliamentarians said the solutions, even if adapted to Russia’s realities, should be in line with Council of Europe principles.
15/06/2005 | Session
An assessment of Russia’s honouring of its Council of Europe obligations and commitments and a report on the media and terrorism which calls on journalists to refrain from disseminating shocking terrorist images are among highlights of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which takes place in Strasbourg from 20 to 24 June 2005. The Assembly will also look beyond the Council of Europe’s 46 member states, with a possible current affairs debate on the situation in the Republics of Central Asia (*) and a debate on the situation in the Middle East, as well as a report on the disappearance of women and girls in Mexico (a Council of Europe observer state).
29/04/2005 | Session
While welcoming the strengthening of Community and international legislation concerning marine pollution, the Assembly today raised the alarm about some major malfunctions in the application of some of the recommended measures at both European and international level. The parliamentarians called on member states inter alia to adopt the necessary measures to receive ships in distress in their territorial waters, to improve the training of seafarers, to come to an agreement within the International Maritime Organisation in order to extend the possibilities of engaging the civil liability of the ship-owner, the charterer, the classification society or the flag state in the event of ship-based pollution, as well as to work towards setting up an international maritime criminal court.
28/04/2005 | Session
''The Warsaw Summit will lay down the guidelines for the future action of the Council of Europe and will reinforce cooperation between the European organisations,'' said Adam D. Rotfeld, President of the Committee of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Poland, to the Parliamentary Assembly this afternoon. ''Future co-operation will be characterised by partnership and complementarity,'' he said, while adding that a co-ordination group has been established to reinforce co-operation with the OSCE and to avoid unnecessary duplication of activities.
26/04/2005 | Session
The Assembly today called on the United States government to cease torturing and mistreating detainees at Guantánamo Bay – and challenged it to either try them fairly or release them, in line with international law. In a resolution adopted almost unanimously during its plenary session in Strasbourg, PACE said the US Government had “betrayed its own highest principles” in the zeal with which it had attempted to pursue the war on terror.
08/10/2004 | Session
The Assembly pledged this morning to take part in a campaign in 2006 to combat domestic violence against women in Europe. The problem of domestic violence extends to all member states of the Council of Europe and is currently undergoing a worrying escalation, the parliamentarians said. It should cease to be a taboo subject and be regarded instead as a national political priority, not least for attention at the Council's coming Third Summit. The Assembly regretted that the Committee of Ministers had not heeded its September 2002 call for a European campaign, aimed at better protection for victims and criminal penalties for perpetrators, and reiterated its request.
07/10/2004 | Session
PACE holds today a joint debate on the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Chechen Republic. Three reports will be discussed. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Alvaro Gil-Robles, will address the Chamber following his recent visit to the Russian Federation and Chechnya in particular. There will also be a speech by the President of Chechnya, Alu Alkhanov.
05/10/2004 | Session
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, will address PACE, which is in plenary session in Strasbourg, on 6 October 2004 at midday. Mr Erdogan will deliver his speech on the same day as the European Commission delivers its report on Turkey’s application to join the EU.