24/06/2024 | 15:44:09 We have also opened for signature a second additional protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which last week attracted its 46th signature, and we will go on to extend the reach of justice further into cyberspace. The Committee of Ministers has adopted my roadmap complementing other recent reforms to bring civil society closer to the work of the Council of Europe, and in turn better ensure civic participation throughout our member states. We have taken significant steps to build... 24/06/2024 | 15:37:54 Mister President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, dear Theodoros, Ladies and gentlemen, Parliamentarians, Dear friends, Thank you for inviting me to make this last speech as Secretary General. As a former member of this Assembly, I have long been aware of the skills, commitment, and dedication that the members here devote to their work. In my current role, I have been privileged to gain a fresh perspective on the depth of your determination to protect and promote human... 16/04/2024 | 15:02:46 Thank you very much for this question. I think I partially answered it through another question, and I can only reiterate that I issued on several occasions the warning or concern about what is going on, and I just said what my clear position is. However, we cannot, by the nature of the original organisation, we have very clearly the remit in which we work, apart from being vocal on some issues, which I think I was very clear on what my position is. We cannot engage in negotiations or other... 16/04/2024 | 14:55:51 Thank you very much. Absolutely one of those, as I call them, emerging priorities, which have already existed, if we recall, also this Parliamentary Assembly calling for more action. I think that is also witnessing of a not really very new thing. I think, what is new and probably what is reflected, I cannot comment on the cases as such, but on their impact. I think what is different probably now than 10 years or five years ago is this pressure and clear environmental decline and climate... 16/04/2024 | 14:52:08 Thank you very much for this important question. If you follow my declarations, I made one condemning Iran's attack on Israel, which happened on Saturday night. My firm belief is that in already very troubled waters of the Middle East, yet another war would be too much for global security and for people living there. I think you were right to mention the 7 October horrible attack by Hamas on Israel, which I also condemned. Also, what was happening in the last couple of months, I think we are... 16/04/2024 | 14:40:39 Thank you very much, first of all, for your very warm words addressed to me. Of course, there will still be a plenary session at which I'll address the Assembly, and I hope that at that point I'll be able to take stock a little more. But as you asked, I'll try to answer briefly. You mentioned one of the challenges of the last almost five years. Before Russia's terrible aggression against our member state Ukraine, there was the pandemic that nobody expected. Nobody could have believed that... 16/04/2024 | 14:36:23 Thank you very much for this important question. As you may know, here at the Council of Europe we have several instruments that deal with the history teaching or with how to deal with the past, which for Europe was very painful one. The Committee of Ministers have recently put forward the Recommendation on Rights, Services and Support for Victims of Crime. This is in view of taking into consideration the Council of Europe's standards and other international standards and upholding shared... 25/01/2024 | 16:30:44 Very shortly to the issue of stability and security. I think in these uncertain times, one cannot only but support regional stability across Europe. Regional stability in the Western Balkans, for sure. So, whatever can be done in order to secure that, I think would be welcome, because we don't need more instability and more suffering for people. For gender equality and leadership, you are right. Last time when there was an election there was gender parity, and I was very happy that I was... 25/01/2024 | 16:23:33 The second question was on national minorities. I think a similar question was asked this morning to the President of the Committee of Ministers. She recalled, and I would recall, because that's very important, the legal framework that we have at the Council of Europe, which is very unique not only in Europe, but worldwide. We have this Framework Convention on protection of national minorities and the European Charter on Protection of Minorities and Regional Languages. What I can appeal is... 25/01/2024 | 16:19:46 Thank you for your question. I'll start with the question of the legal status of refugees- I can only tell you, in general, that this is a matter for the member states. So, the answer must be found where the Armenians who left Nagorno-Karabakh are now, and the state concerned must find solutions. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We are very concerned about the people, the hundreds of thousands of people who have left their homes, their places, the places where they have always...