08/11/2010 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
The PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education meeting in Paris, called for renewed efforts by European governments to reduce acts of violence in schools throughout Europe. Alarmed by “attacks by pupils with or without weapons, bullying and harassment among pupils, acts of hostility and even aggression by pupils against teachers,” the committee unanimously adopted a draft resolution which, as proposed by the rapporteur, Gvozden Srecko Flego (Croatia, SOC), sets out a range of guiding principles.
05/11/2010 | Standing Committee
PACE Standing Committee will meet in Antalya on Friday 12 November 2010 as Turkey takes over the chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu will open the meeting, followed by welcome addresses from Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Sadik Yakut and the Governor of Antalya Ahmet Altiparmak. The parliamentarians will then hold an exchange of views with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who is chairing the Council of Europe’s executive body for six months from 10 November 2010.
04/11/2010 | Election observation
A 30-member delegation of PACE, led by Paul Wille (Belgium, ALDE), will be in Azerbaijan from 5 to 8 November to observe the holding of the parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
04/11/2010 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has written to the Speaker of the Cyprus House of Representatives Marios Garoyian expressing surprise at his reported suggestion that he was “misled” over the President’s planned visit to the northern part of the island. Mr Çavusoglu was in Cyprus from 31 October to 2 November.
03/11/2010 | President
“I wish to add my voice to those calling on Iran not to execute Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani,” PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu said today in a statement. “While fears of an immediate execution now seem to have lessened, I am deeply concerned that her life remains under threat.” “I note Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki’s reported statement today that a final verdict in Ashtiani’s case has not yet been reached, and once again appeal for her release.”
03/11/2010 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
“Culture is often seen as a luxury for the elite. This is a complete misconception. It is impossible to imagine how our societies could protect and develop other fundamental rights if they overlook the fact that these rights were brought about by cultural development,” said Gvozden Srecko Flego, Chair of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education, at the opening of a hearing in Paris on “the right of everyone to participate in cultural life”.
03/11/2010 | President
The European Convention on Human Rights has helped to build a Europe united from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, and now faces a new chapter in its history with EU accession and reform of the Court, PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has said. Speaking at a...
02/11/2010 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has welcomed the continued negotiations between the leaders of the two Cypriot communities under UN auspices, and called on both parties to show “political courage and firm determination to find a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for a peaceful and united Cyprus”, one which would guarantee the legitimate rights of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots in full compliance with the values and principles of the Council of Europe.
29/10/2010 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu is to make an official visit to Cyprus from 31 October to 2 November. On 1 November, he will meet among others President Demetris Christofias, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, and the Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou. On 2 November, Mr Çavusoglu will hold meetings in the northern part of the island. The same day he will attend a joint meeting with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II, and with the head of religious affairs of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mehmet Emin Yeltekin.
28/10/2010 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand will speak at a hearing on "the right of everyone to participate in cultural life" that the Committees on Culture of the French National Assembly and the PACE are holding on Wednesday 3 November. The meeting, organised under the High Patronage of the President of the French Republic, will be opened by the Chairpersons of both committees, Michèle Tabarot and Gvozden Srecko Flego.
27/10/2010 | Election observation
A PACE pre-electoral delegation today ended a visit to Chisinau to evaluate the election campaign on the eve of the 28 November 2010 parliamentary elections in Moldova. The pre-election delegation noted with satisfaction the confidence of political stakeholders in the transparent functioning of the Central Election Commission.
27/10/2010 | President
In his speech before the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg today, the PACE President stressed once again the need for reform of the Council of Europe. “Our Organisation needs to become more pro-active, more relevant and closer to the needs and aspirations of our fellow Europeans,” he said.