04/12/2009 President
"PACE represents the most representative pan-European political forum to discuss initiatives and proposals by member states regarding European and world affairs," declared Lluís Maria de Puig during his meeting with Sergei Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation held on 3 December 2009 in Saint Petersburg.
In this connection, Mr de Puig announced his intention to invite the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitri Medvedev, to present before the parliamentarians of the 47 member states his recent initiatives concerning the new European Security Architecture as well as the creation of an international tribunal on the acts of piracy.
The PACE President took this occasion to call on Russia to increase its involvement in the work of the Council of Europe. “The future of Europe cannot be built without Russia,” he said.
He also expressed his satisfaction at the moves in Russia towards the ratification of Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention of Human Rights and stressed that it was of crucial importance that the ratification occur as soon as possible.
The PACE President was in Saint Petersburg on the occasion of the 33rd plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commomwealth of Independent States (CIS). He also met Mikhail Krotov, Secretary General of the CIS PA, to discuss the prepations for a joint conference on the issues of European security in April next year in Saint Petersburg.