27/09/2004 | News
An urgent debate on the challenge of terrorism in Council of Europe member states as well as a joint debate on the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Chechen Republic are among highlights of the PACE session, which takes place in Strasbourg from 4 to 8 October 2004. Other items due for debate include the functioning of democratic institutions in Serbia and Montenegro and in Azerbaijan, the honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia, as well as women’s participation in elections. Guest speakers include Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Crown Prince Albert of Monaco – who is due to address the parliamentarians just before the ceremony for Monaco’s accession – and the President of the new Pan-African Parliament Gertrude Mongella.
07/09/2004 | News
The Assembly's Standing Committee, meeting in Oslo today at the invitation of the Norwegian Parliament, endorsed a statement by PACE President Peter Schieder stressing that the Assembly joins the whole of Russia during this day of mourning in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan. "We convey our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to all those injured or affected and express Europe’s full solidarity with the Russian people and authorities at this tragic time. Terrorism has no justification.(...) It must be fought with all legal means available. First of all, international cooperation against terrorism needs to be strengthened. At present, the legislative framework is fragmented and incomplete and so far the United Nations has not been able to conclude a comprehensive convention on the fight against terrorism. It is therefore more urgent than ever to begin work without delay on the elaboration of a comprehensive Council of Europe Convention on Terrorism."
01/09/2004 | News
“Peace cannot be ordered, but must be made by all people even if they have dissenting opinions,” Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), Assembly rapporteur on the political situation in the Chechen Republic concluded at the end of the fact-finding mission of a Council of Europe delegation to the region from 28 to 31 August. He expressed serious reservations with regard to the presidential elections which took place in the Chechen Republic on Sunday 29 August. In his opinion, these elections were far from meeting Council of Europe standards. Tadeusz Iwinski (Poland, SOC), Assembly rapporteur on the humanitarian situation of the Chechen displaced population, speaking at a press conference in Moscow today, strongly supported concrete plans to rebuild entire districts of the Chechen capital. These efforts, he said, combined with the federal scheme of compensation for lost housing – if realized – would have a very positive effect on the Chechen population.
24/08/2004 | News
Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC) and Tadeusz Iwiński (Poland, SOC) - Assembly rapporteurs on the political and humanitarian aspects of the situation in the Chechen Republic (respectively) - visited the region from 27 to 31 August 2004 as part of the preparations for their reports. The parliamentarians lead a Council of Europe delegation also including Jean-Claude Frecon (France, SOC) and Pascal Mangin (France, EPP/CD) - both members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe - as well as two experts. They will give a press conference at the Interfax headquarters in Moscow on Wednesday 1 September at 10 a.m.
19/07/2004 | News
The Council of Europe wishes to entrust transcription of the verbatim reports of the four annual part-sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly in English and French to an outside service-provider and is therefore calling for tenders. If the conditions of this tender suit you, you are welcome to submit your bid; your reply must be postmarked Friday 6 August 2004 at the latest.
05/07/2004 | News
The Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly Bruno Haller, speaking today at the end of a visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, has said he will propose to the Bureau of the Assembly a programme of reinforced co-operation with the parliaments of the three South Caucasus countries. This co-operation could include closer relations between the corresponding committees of the national parliaments and the Parliamentary Assembly, the organisation of seminars on subjects of concern to these countries, study visits of members of parliament and of the staff.
25/06/2004 | News
Dean Spielmann and Ireneu Cabral have been elected judges to the European Court of Human Rights with respect to Luxembourg and Portugal, respectively. The Assembly announced this morning the result of the second ballot in the election that took place yesterday afternoon, no candidate having obtained an absolute majority after the first round that took place on 23 June. Mr. Spielmann and Mr Cabral have been elected for terms of office continuing until 31 October 2007 and 31 October 2010, respectively.
25/06/2004 | News
The Assembly called on the Council of Europe governments to monitor closely the observance of asylum-seekers’, refugees’ and displaced persons’ rights in the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Moldova and especially the principle of non-refoulement. Adopting the recommendation prepared by Tadeusz Iwinski (Poland, SOC), the Assembly urged the three countries to review the compliance of their regional regulations and administrative practices with federal or national legislation in the field of migration and to show a political will to tackle migration issues in a positive way.
25/06/2004 | News
Countries working together to manage transboundary river basins and lakes can also encourage good governance, sustainable development, greater decentralisation and even the resolution of conflicts, the Assembly said today following a joint debate on water issues in Europe. It also called for water plans to be made an integral part of national economic and social policy, and proposed an integrated project, “Euro-water”, to bring together all players and disseminate good practice.
25/06/2004 | News
The Secretary General of the Assembly Bruno Haller will visit from 30 June to 5 July the national parliaments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia with a view to discussing possibilities for concrete assistance programmes as well as possible regional inter-parliamentary co-operation. He will meet the Presidents of Parliaments, the Chairpersons of parliamentary committees, representatives of political groups and Secretaries General of Parliaments. He will also meet senior members of the government in all three countries.
24/06/2004 | News
“The way for Monaco’s accession as the 46th member state of the Council of Europe is open. I have received letters from both the Minister of State of Monaco and the Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe informing me that the negotiations for a new Convention to replace the 1930 instrument have been concluded. In particular, agreement was reached on the principle that Monegasque citizens may have access to all public-sector posts in their country,” Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Schieder announced today.
24/06/2004 | News
The Assembly will announce the result of the second ballot in the election of two judges to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Luxembourg and Portugal today at 10 a.m. No candidate having obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast after the first round that took place on 23 June, a second ballot was held yesterday afternoon.