03/04/2008 President
, 03.04.2008 - Speaking at the 30th Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the CIS, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig stressed that relations with neighbouring countries of the Council of Europe are one of his priorities. “I am persuaded that the European democratic model based on our organisation’s fundamental values continues to exercise its power of attraction well beyond . We must work closely with our neighbours including those in and think about pragmatic methods enabling us to develop an institutional dialogue in specific fields of co-operation,” he said. He announced that PACE was going to review the functioning of observer status with the Council of Europe and that it would consider the establishment of a new status for non-member states that wish to co-operate with the Council of Europe, but that are not yet in a position to guarantee full compliance with its principles.