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PACE to adopt a report and a resolution on Russia-Georgia conflict

29 September 2008 15:36 (UTC +04:00)

He said in his opening statement that Europe experienced one its most serious crises since the fall of the Berlin Wall during the summer when two neighboring member states of the Council of Europe, Georgia and Russia, engaged in a conflict which runs counter to the principles and values that the Council of Europe upholds. He numbered this issue as the main issue for the autumn session.
He said that there will be a heated discussion because about 80 parliamentarians queued for addressing the tomorrowâ€™s meeting.
According to him, no official document will be adopted at the meeting.
He said the deliberation will be based on the document made by Luc van den Brande, PACE representative on Russia-Georgia relations, and a special document on this issue will be adopted on the fourth day of the session.
He acknowledged a request for the reconsideration of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation to PACE â€œon substantive groundsâ€, adding that there will be a special meeting on this issue.
He noted that the main question that should guide us during our discussions on this subject should be what we want for the future of Europe and how we can guarantee its peace and stability in the Caucasus.
According to him, a war between two member states is violation of the CoE principles and international norms.
He said the Council of Europe intervened in the matter in order to start dialogue, stabilize the situation and stop the war.
Luc van den Brande led a 9-people mission to Russia and Georgia on September 22-25.
In his words, Luc van den Brandeâ€™s report has been adopted at the todayâ€™s bureau meeting and the tomorrowâ€™s discussion will be based on this report.
According to him, the report says it is hard to identify who started the war.
He noted that a report and a resolution will be adopted at the end of the fall session autumn session to be held in Strasbourg from 29 September to 3 October 2008.
He said the issue of the reconsideration of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation to PACE has been reported to the Disciplinary Commission.
â€œI will let the PACE representatives know what decision the Commission makes,â€ he added.
Today a group of people from South Ossetia staged a protect action outside the Council of Europe to condemn Georgian aggression.