20/08/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today ended an official visit to Jordan by expressing his hope that the revived Arab peace initiative and a possible US-sponsored conference would “create new opportunities and a momentum for peace” in the region, which all agreed depended above all on a resolution of the Palestinian problem. Speaking following a private audience with King Abdullah II, as well as meetings with the Jordanian Prime Minister and the heads of both Houses of Parliament, the President also said there was general agreement that Europe should play “a stronger role” in the Middle East peace process.
19/08/2007 | Election observation
While the 2007 parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan reflected welcome progress, a number of international standards were not met, in particular with regard to elements of the new legal framework and the vote count, concluded international observers. "Building a democracy is a long and hard task," said the head of the PACE delegation David Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG). "However, the people of Kazakhstan are making real progress. I am not surprised that more needs to be done but saddened that the outstanding challenges include some fundamental matters."
16/08/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden is to make an official visit to the Middle East from 18-24 August 2007 with the aim of encouraging opportunities presented by the current situation to achieve sustainable peace in the region and to promote inter-religious dialogue. He will visit Jordan (18-20 August), Israel (20-22 August) and the Palestinian Territories (23-24 August).
14/08/2007 | Election observation
A five-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by David Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG) will be observing the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan on 18 August alongside observers from the OSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
10/08/2007 | News
Three members of PACE making an unofficial and personal visit to Cuba have expressed their solidarity with the Cuban opposition and said they would ask the Council of Europe to make available its political and legal assistance in achieving peaceful transition in Cuba. Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE), Erik Jurgens (Netherlands, SOC) and Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), who were representing only themselves and their political families, said they had faced "intimidation" during the seven-day visit.
09/08/2007 | Prizes
A ceremony to award the 2007 Europe Prize to the German city of Nuremberg took place at the Tucher Mansion on Saturday 11 August 2007 during the city’s “twinning” festival. The prize rewards local and regional authorities for their active promotion of the European ideal. During the ceremony French Senator Guy Lengagne presented the Prize trophy to Nuremberg’s mayor Ulrich Maly.
31/07/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today ended a week-long visit to Russia, during which he met Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov to discuss preparations for Russia's 2008 presidential elections, the non-ratification of Protocol No 14 and Russia’s relations with neighbouring countries, the European Union and NGOs. The President also met Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who is to address the Assembly at its next plenary session.
24/07/2007 | President
“The Bulgarian medics can now see the light at the end of the tunnel” said PACE President René van der Linden following the transfer of the Bulgarian medics to their home country. He praised diplomatic efforts taken by his European colleagues. “While being relieved by this transfer and the fact that the medics' trauma is now over, I am still deeply concerned by the situation in Libya which led to a humanitarian tragedy and the deprival of the liberty of the innocent medics for 8 years. The Libyan authorities must now tackle as a matter of urgency the problem of their derelict health system” he said.
23/07/2007 | Election observation
The 36 member strong PACE delegation that observed the Parliamentary elections held in Turkey on 22 July 2007 today said it was impressed with the organisation and conduct of the vote. Overwhelmingly, the voting was organised well and conducted in an orderly and professional fashion that testifies to a long-standing tradition of democratic elections in this founder-member of the Council of Europe. The high voter turnout showed that genuine confidence in the democratic process exists in Turkey. The Supreme Electoral Board, as well as district and local polling stations officials, despatched their duties effectively and in good faith.
20/07/2007 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Dick Marty, Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on “secret detentions and illegal transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states” presented his findings, and the conclusions of the Assembly, at a hearing organised in Brussels by the European Parliament with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Civil Liberties Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee. This was followed by a press conference at which Dick Marty and Claudio Fava (EP Rapporteur) took part. The following background information document was made available.
18/07/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden today travelled to Paris to meet with the President of the French National Assembly, Bernard Accoyer, as well as with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Rama Yade. Mr van der Linden met also with members of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly.
17/07/2007 | President
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President René van der Linden today said he was shocked by the assasination, this morning in Istanbul, of Tuncay Seyranlioglu, an independent candidate running in the 22 July parliamentary elections in Turkey. "I wish to extend my condolences, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly, to the family of the victim. Such a barbaric act must not undermine the will of the Turkish people to organise under the best possible conditions next Sunday's parliamentary elections and to demonstrate their sense of responsibility for the future of the country," Mr van der Linden declared.