27/06/2024 | 15:57:37 Thank you, Mister President. Allow me to thank Mr Piero FASSINO for this report that has taken much time and effort, but also the secretary of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy Mr Pavel CHEVTCHENKO for his precious assistance throughout. Dear colleagues, it has been decades since the Cyprus problem was discussed in the planetary session of the PACE. Unfortunately, as it was already said, in just a few days we will mark 50 years since the Turkish invasion and continuous... 26/06/2024 | 19:31:10 Dear colleagues, I want to thank the Co-Rapporteurs for this excellent report. I believe that Armenia will be able to move to the next stage of the post-monitoring procedure, provided it continues with the same engagement and determination on its ambitious reform programme. Armenia, dear colleagues, has achieved much progress in our key areas of concern despite a particularly hostile international environment since 2022. The reforms pursued have addressed all concerns identified by the... 26/06/2024 | 18:58:21 This amendment, as all the others in the resolution, in the recommendation, express our reservations in relation to the mandatory character of this proposal for a new mediation mechanism. There is no other precedent in international regional organisations where such a process is a mandatory one. So the proposal is to leave it as voluntary. Allow me to say that the proposals that were unanimously accepted by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy were rejected in the Committee on... 26/06/2024 | 17:29:27 Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Dear colleagues, The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy entrusted me with this opinion that we discussed yesterday and unanimously adapted together with a number of amendments. I wish to congratulate the rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Lord Richard KEEN for this important and innovative report, which keeps practical significance to the obligation taken up in Reykjavík last year, to give our Assembly and this organisation a... 18/04/2024 | 18:54:57 Yes. If you can give me a bit more time, I would be grateful, because I've just stopped speaking for a few seconds. These events occurred, and they speak for themselves. What I'd like to point out, is that I'm very dismayed by the Council of Europe's lack of action. All we've done up to now is to vote on a resolution which didn't call for an unconditional permanent ceasefire. It simply called on Israel to continue what it was doing in Gaza. In other words, to carry out a genocide until the... 18/04/2024 | 18:52:56 I've been following the discussion. I'd like to start by telling you that all the events, all the information that has been recorded by colleagues, also by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He said recently, and I quote him that "the war in Gaza is a war that has caused the most loss of lives compared to all conflicts that are today". That means that the war in Gaza has caused huge suffering, huge hunger. He said a number of other things. In response to Ms Meirav BEN ARI and other... 18/04/2024 | 16:31:24 Thank you, Madam Chair. Allow me to start by thanking our rapporteur, Ms Thórhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, for her significant work on this report. Dear colleagues, AI is no longer a futuristic idea: it is a present-day reality. Because of its profound impact across every sector of our societies, we must be responsive not only to the opportunities and benefits, but also to the significant risks and challenges generated by the use of AI technology. Indeed, the misuse of these technologies can... 18/04/2024 | 11:44:58 Thank you, Mister Chair, dear colleagues. I would like to thank our rapporteurs for their diligent work on this matter of utmost importance. The fact that this issue comes today before the Assembly, just a few weeks after the historic decision of the European Court on Human Rights is indeed a very welcome development. The Court's decision against the State of Switzerland ruled that under human rights law, member states are legally obliged to meet their climate-related targets and ensure the... 16/04/2024 | 18:48:50 Thank you, Mister President, Allow me to start by thanking our esteemed colleague Ms Dora BAKOYANNIS for the opinion that she presented to us today. Dear colleagues, When discussing Ms Dora BAKOYANNIS' positive opinion on Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe we should ask ourselves: under the present circumstances, will making Kosovo a member state of the Council of Europe serve the purpose of peace, stability, and security on our European continent? Will the European perspective of... 25/01/2024 | 19:38:47 Thank you, Mister Chair, Allow me first to congratulate our rapporteurs for their excellent work. Dear colleagues, Safeguarding the freedom of the press and an independent and pluralistic media is vital for a strong functioning democracy. Any form of restriction, control, or manipulation is a clear violation of the basic human right to freedom of expression and information. The number of cases that threaten media freedom is steadily rising in Europe, including an increase in smear campaigns...