02/08/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today deplored the deaths of innocent civilians on all sides and called for an immediate halt to the fighting in the Middle East. “The continuing disproportionate use of force by Israel, in particular indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, is completely unacceptable and in violation of the most basic norms of international law. Such a policy only plays into the hands of the terrorists and their extremist supporters,” the President said.
31/07/2006 | News
René van der Linden yesterday concluded a working visit to the port of Odessa in southern Ukraine. During his visit, he held discussions with the new Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, O. Moroz, the head of the Oblast Council, M. Skoryk and the Mayor of Odessa, E. Gurvits. The main topic of these discussions was the need to secure and further develop Ukraine's progress in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Particular attention was paid to the importance of appointing a strong and stable national government, committed to promptly and fully implementing Ukraine's obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe; and to effectively upholding the rule of law, including through full cooperation with the EU Border Assistance Mission, responsible for supporting national controls along the border between Ukraine and Moldova, and effective investigation of crimes committed under former regimes, notably the Gongadze case.
27/07/2006 | News
Referring to the situation in Transnistria during his speech before a plenary session of the Moldovan Parliament, PACE President today stressed that the Council of Europe was the ideal forum for mediation and reconciliation. “I encourage you to use the Assembly’s potential for parliamentary diplomacy, to work towards rapprochement and to engage in dialogue. I know that your delegation has already shown its willingness to address the issue of Transnistria in this context, and I am confident that a format acceptable to all sides will soon be found,” the President said.
24/07/2006 | News
The functioning of democratic institutions in Moldova, the situation in Transnistria and the promotion of intercultural and inter-faith dialogue are some of the issues which René van der Linden will be addressing during his official visit to Moldova from 26 to 28 July 2006. The visit follows an invitation from the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Marian Lupu, with whom Mr van der Linden will be holding talks on Wednesday 26 July.
20/07/2006 | News
Romania’s preparations to join the EU and the fight against corruption, as well as inter-religious dialogue, are among issues to be raised by PACE President during a visit to Romania from 23 to 25 July 2006. He will also discuss the political situation in the region, before continuing on an official visit to Moldova. Mr van der Linden is due to meet the Vice-President of the Romanian Senate Alexandru Peres and Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu as well as members of the Romanian delegation to PACE. In Iasi, he will meet Bishop Petru Gherghel and will visit the monasteries at Moldovita and Voronet.
13/07/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today urged Serbian parliamentarians to counter rising nationalism and political radicalisation by focusing on ensuring the well-being of citizens. “It is important you deliver to your citizens what concerns them most: jobs, social security, education and health care,” he said during an exchange of views with the Serbian Parliament’s Committee of European Integration in Belgrade. In meetings yesterday with Serbian leaders, the President also raised the question of Serbia’s six-month Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in May 2007, which he described as “an opportunity” for the country.
13/07/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden has welcomed the change of heart on Belarus by the EU Presidency, which said yesterday that its policy of isolating Belarus has not worked. "As I have said before, even if we have profound differences with Belarus – the only European country that does not merit membership of the Council of Europe – I believe the only way to improve things is through dialogue," said Mr van der Linden. "The Finnish Presidency of the 25-nation EU and the Russian Presidency of the 46-nation Council of Europe can work together to foster that dialogue. Furthermore, I am ready to go to Belarus if it will help this country on its path to democracy."
12/07/2006 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
"I am a little disappointed at the lack of progress in the investigation concerning the instigators and organisers of the Gongadze killing,” said Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Germany, ALDE), who is preparing a PACE report on the Gongadze case and other Kuchma-era crimes. At a press conference today in Kyiv she said: "It is good that three officers are on trial for having committed the crime. This is necessary, but not sufficient. The Council of Europe will observe carefully whether all steps are taken to make use of all the available evidence."
12/07/2006 | President
PACE President René van der Linden has written to the Speakers of the Russian State Duma and Federation Council to express his great shock and sadness at the tragic air crash in Irkutsk on Sunday. “I would like to convey my personal condolences, as well as those of the Parliamentary Assembly, to your country, your parliament and most of all to the bereaved families,” the President wrote.
10/07/2006 | President
Countries in South-Eastern Europe aspiring to EU membership must continue reform and respect their Council of Europe obligations, but the EU must also keep its promises, PACE President René van der Linden said today in an address to Balkan heads of state in Dubrovnik. "If the EU does not stick to the promises it has made about the Western Balkans’ long-term prospect of membership, Europe and the EU will lose their credibility," said Mr van der Linden. "But your countries also need to respect their obligations – to carry out wide-ranging, profound reforms in order to transform your societies into real democracies."
07/07/2006 | President
In a letter sent to the Speakers of the Spanish Congress of Deputies,Manuel Marin Gonzalez and of the Senate, Javier Rojo Garcia, PACE President René van der Linden said it was with great shock and sadness that he learnt of the tragic underground train crash that happened in Valencia on 3 July. "We are all aware that in these moments there are families and friends who lost their loved ones, and victims marked physically and psychologically for life - a tragedy for all. It will be difficult for them to forget this 3rd of July, but I am convinced that at moments like this the gesture of solidarity shown by members of parliament will be very much appreciated by all of them. I would like to convey my personal condolences, as well as those of the Parliamentary Assembly, to your country, your parliament and most of all to the bereaved families.
07/07/2006 | President
René van der Linden has urged Bosnia and Herzegovina’s parliamentarians to restart discussions immediately, after the October general elections, on constitutional reform which would progressively replace the mechanisms of "ethnic representation" with "representation based on the civic principle". Such a change of system, while difficult, was "imperative", he said. "The Dayton Peace Agreement was a cease-fire that stopped the war, but it is not enough to address the general recognised need to strengthen state institutions that are currently too weak to allow BiH further integration into Europe".