05/10/2004 | News
“We unreservedly condemn the conduct of the Transdnestrian administration in the dispute on the status of Moldovan schools teaching in latin script that operate in the territory under their de facto control," the Monitoring Committee said today. "We demand from Tiraspol that harassment of children, teachers and parents ceases immediately and unconditionally. The international community will not tolerate an inadmissible behaviour which is depriving school children of food, electricity, running water and education in order to settle political scores with the legitimate government of the Republic of Moldova", the Committee concluded.
05/10/2004 | News
PACE's Sub-Committee on the Middle East, meeting in Strasbourg, today adopted the following statement: “The members of the Sub-Committee on the Middle East have expressed their deep concern about the recent dramatic events in Gaza which have already cost the lives of Palestinians and Israelis including children on both sides. The Sub-committee condemns strongly the Palestinian rocket attacks on the Israeli towns and calls upon the Palestinians to stop these attacks immediately.
05/10/2004 | News
The Assembly today called on member states to provide Europeans with more information and better education on sexual and reproductive health. Problems include a sharp rise in teenage pregnancies, rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/Aids, and an increase in sexual violence, the parliamentarians said. PACE also wants member states to share information about their more successful experiences, and to provide adequate funds for the development of STI screening, as well as counselling, services, and contraception, including for young people.
05/10/2004 | News
While recognising that Azerbaijan has made some progress in honouring its obligations and commitments since January 2004, the Assembly considers that this progress is inadequate. According to the parliamentarians, the Assembly cannot consider closing the current monitoring procedure until such time as Azerbaijan has proven that its commitments have been irreversibly implemented. The adopted resolution points out that, nearly a year after Ilham Aliyev was elected President of the Republic, there are a number of positive signs, for example in the form of four presidential pardon decrees. However, it notes with concern that some political prisoners and presumed political prisoners are still in jail and there is still a risk of being arrested and imprisoned for political reasons.
05/10/2004 | News
European governments should set themselves the objective of increasing women’s representation in parliament to 40 per cent by the year 2020, the Assembly said today. Among the Council of Europe’s member states, only Sweden has already achieved this threshold, the parliamentarians pointed out. They also called for a series of measures to outlaw and eliminate “family voting”.
04/10/2004 | News
"Democracy needs transparency. Transparency means informing you. This is why PACE Secretariat is delighted to be able to present you the first-ever issue of pace news, its new bi-monthly electronic newsletter. Speaking in the name of 800 million Europeans, PACE represents the 'democratic conscience' of Greater Europe. Here, in succinct form – with selected news – is the essence of its work. We hope you enjoy pace news, and we look forward to hearing what you think of it." - Bruno Haller, Secretary General of PACE
04/10/2004 | President
On 4 October, PACE President Peter Schieder made the following statement: “We express our deep concern at recent news from Belarus about arbitrary arrests of opposition politicians, blatant violations of freedom of expression and the repression of independent media in the run up to the legislative elections to be held on 17 October. We urge the Belarusian authorities to do their utmost to guarantee free and fair elections. It must be ensured that all candidates have the same chances. According to my information, one party was already dissolved; others have received warnings and might be de-registered."
04/10/2004 | News
The Assembly today decided to hold a current affairs debate on “Georgian-Russian relations” at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday 7 October in which the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Nino Burdjanadze has been invited to take part. Adopting its order of business, the Assembly also invited Chechen President Alu Alkhanov to take part in Thursday’s joint debate on the situation in the Chechen Republic. Other members of a high-level delegation from Chechnya and Ingushetia will hold exchanges of view with relevant committees of the Assembly.
04/10/2004 | News
"Terrorism does not come out of the blue. It has its prerequisites, breeding-grounds and causal factors. However, there is no – absolutely no – justification for taking innocent children hostage and killing them", PACE President Peter Schieder said today in his opening speech of the Assembly's October session. "There is an ongoing debate in many countries on taking a tough, united line in the fight against terror. Many people wonder what exactly that means. Here in the Council of Europe we know what it should not mean: restricting fundamental rights; abolishing democratic institutions; stifling opposition; reintroducing the death penalty; censoring newspapers, radio and television. I have told you before but I will say it again: if terrorism succeeds in luring us into measures like these then it will have won", he said.
04/10/2004 | News
"Today Africa is not only recognising the challenges it is confronted with, but it is also ready to take action; and this is new. The African Union, the Pan-African parliament (PAP) etc. were established to give a common vision of a united and strong Africa", Gertrude Mongella, President of the Pan-African parliament said in her statement before the Assembly. PACE President Peter Schieder welcomed her as the first representative of an African Parliament to address the Assembly. "I am sure that the PAP will become a driving force for the promotion and the protection of human rights, a promoter of peace and security and a guarantor of transparency and democratic accountability in the important work of the – also newly structured - African Union as a whole", he said.
04/10/2004 | Political Affairs and Democracy
PACE Political Affairs Committee today adopted a preliminary draft resolution on the situation in Western Sahara. The text urges the authorities of Morocco “to show a compromising attitude towards acceptance of the United Nations Peace Plan for Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara”, a plan already officially accepted by the Frente Polisario. According to the preliminary draft resolution, prepared by Gabino Puche (Spain, EPP/CD), the acceptance of the Peace Plan would allow “to put an end to the dispute over Western Sahara”.
04/10/2004 | News
PACE today decided to associate “elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community” more closely in its work by inviting them to sit in the Chamber. This decision follows on Resolution 1376 adopted by the PACE in April, expressing the opinion that the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots must cease, after their overwhelming support for the Annan Plan. Henceforth two “representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community” will be able to speak in the Chamber. At each sitting, only one can be given the floor. If authorised by the President, the person will appear on the list of speakers with the indication: Cyprus.