16/02/2011 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education is to hold a hearing in Paris on 18 February on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, in the context of preparation of a report on this subject by Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE). This hearing is being held to consider in greater detail monotheist religions' contribution to the promotion and protection of the Council of Europe's fundamental values and to the development of a society which is both cohesive and plural.
14/02/2011 | President
The Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) can serve as an example of tolerance and peaceful and prosperous coexistence of cultures and religions for the whole region, said PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the Republic’s capital Kazan (11-12 February 2011). He expressed his appreciation to the President of the Republic and its leadership for their efforts to develop and preserve the cultures and traditions of about 115 nationalities and ethnic groups.
14/02/2011 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has expressed concern at the arrival by sea of thousands of Tunisians on the island of Lampedusa in Italy. “History has a tendency to repeat itself on Lampedusa. The authorities must handle these arrivals with the necessary care, as those in need of protection must receive it. Notwithstanding the need for action, there must be no mass expulsion,” he said.
11/02/2011 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Following yesterday’s vote in the House of Commons on prisoners’ voting rights, Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, made the following statement: “I am deeply disappointed by last night’s vote, in defiance of the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on prisoner voting."
11/02/2011 | President
The role of NG0s is indispensable in promoting intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, declared PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, speaking during a meeting with the “Dialogue Eurasia Platform” held today in Moscow. He expressed appreciation and support for the activities of this major non-governmental organisation, which promotes tolerance and peaceful co-operation among nations and different ethnic groups in the Euro-Asian space.
10/02/2011 | President
Speaking today at the Moscow State University of Culture and Art, where he was awarded an "honoris causa" degree, PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu welcomed the positive climate in relations between Russia and the Council of Europe. He said Russian MPs and experts were greatly contributing to the functioning of the Organisation, by actively working on an equal footing with their fellow European colleagues on the most pressing challenges society has to face.
09/02/2011 | President
At the end of his official visit to Moldova (8-10 February), the PACE President Mevlüt Cavusoglu welcomed the willingness of Moldovan political parties to dialogue to solve the political deadlock. “Any solution to overcome the current deadlock concerning the election of the President of Moldova should be based on a large consensus of political forces. It is therefore fundamental for the majority and the opposition to engage, without further delay, in meaningful negotiations and to accept compromises in the interest of the country,” the PACE President said today.
07/02/2011 | President
PACE President, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, is to make an official visit to Moldova on 8-9 February. During his visit, he will meet the Acting President of the Republic and Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leancă, as well as the different political forces represented in parliament.
07/02/2011 | President
PACE President, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, will conduct a working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, on 11-12 February. Meetings are scheduled in particular with representatives of the authorities and with religious leaders.
03/02/2011 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
Mats Johansson (Sweden, EPP/CD) has been appointed as the Standing Rapporteur on Media Freedom of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education. Mr Johansson, who replaces the late Andrew McIntosh (United Kingdom, SOC), has been a journalist for 40 years, as well as publisher and writer, and was the Political Editor of the leading Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet before entering parliament.
03/02/2011 | Monitoring
PACE co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Albania, Jaakko Laakso (Finland, UEL) and Thomáš Jirsa (Czech Republic, EDG), have urged all parties to find a negotiated solution to the current political crisis in Albania, and to refrain from any action that could further escalate the already tense situation. “This crisis is doing lasting damage to Albania’s democratic institutions and is endangering the very stability of the country,” said the two co-rapporteurs.
03/02/2011 | Monitoring
Joseph Debono Grech (Malta, SOC) and Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD), PACE co-rapporteurs on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan, have completed a three-day visit to the country (1-3 February 2011), during which they studied the current political situation following the elections and discussed the state of the Assembly’s monitoring procedure with the authorities, political parties and civil society.