Contents tagged with PACE

  • Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany: restoration of Russia's rights in PACE undermines Kyiv's trust in Berlin

    Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk, in an interview with Welt news outlet, said that restoration of the rights of the Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had undermined Kyiv's confidence in Berlin.

    Ukrainians think that this decision was a "fatal mistake," noted the ambassador. "It has also undermined Kyiv's trust in Germany," he said.

    Melnyk said that this decision "was terrible," and expressed regret that eight German deputies voted in …

  • PACE President tries to justify Russia's return to Assembly

    On July 7 the President of PACE Lillian-Marie Pasquier during her speech at the session in the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE said that the return of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe would allegedly allow the Assembly to work closely with Russia on a number of problematic issues, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

    "Now we can work on problematic issues with Russian colleagues again. Restoration of the powers of the Russian delegation does not mean that …

  • PACE delegation leaves Ukraine after Kyiv withdraws invitation to observe parliamentary elections

    The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which arrived in Ukraine to assess the pre-election climate, has left the country ahead of schedule. PACE representatives explained that the premature departure was based on Ukraine’s withdrawal of its invitation to PACE to send observers for the country’s upcoming snap parliamentary elections.

    “The pre-electoral delegation has decided to cease its activity prematurely,” PACE said in a statement published on …

  • Kyiv: Ukraine will not invite PACE observers to parliamentary elections

    Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy canceled the invitation for members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to observe the early parliamentary elections in Ukraine, reports the head of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE Vladimir Aryev.

    Earlier, Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs recommended the Verkhovna Rada to suspend the participation of permanent Ukrainian delegation in the PACE.

    Earlier, PACE removed all restrictions from the …

  • Russia resumes contributions to Council of Europe budget

    Russia has resumed its payment of membership contributions to the Council of Europe’s budget, said COE Spokesperson Daniel Holtgen, as cited by Deutsche Welle. He expressed confidence that Russia would also repay what it owes for 2017 and 2018, which amounts to €55 million, as well as a penalty for late payment.

    On 26 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) reinstated the Russian delegation through a resolution that did not include any sanctions.

    The amendment to the …

  • Seven countries to draft resolution against Russia’s return to PACE

    Seven countries from central and eastern Europe intend to draft a special resolution against Russia’s reinstatement in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said Stanisław Karczewski, Marshal of the Polish Senate, as cited by Polskie Radio.

    In order to discuss this, Karczewski met with representatives of these countries in Lublin on the 450th anniversary of the Lublin Union.

    “We spoke about this topic yesterday. We are all outraged by this situation. Country …

  • Putin names condition for release of Ukrainian sailors

    At a press conference at the G20 Summit in Osaka Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukrainian sailors could be exchanged for Russian citizens who are detained in Ukraine, reports UNIAN news agency.

    Putin was asked whether the release of Ukrainian sailors was linked to the return of Russia to PACE and whether the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin rejected Russia's proposal to release the Ukrainian military.

    "No, there is no connection between PACE and Ukrainian …

  • Seven delegations leave PACE to protest Russia’s return

    Representatives of seven member states of the Council of Europe have jointly announced their intention to protest Russia’s unconditional reinstatement in the organization, reports Eurointegration.

    “The unconditional reinstatement of the Russian delegation’s rights without them meeting even one of the assembly’s numerous requirements is contrary to the fundamental values of the Council of Europe and its charter. This step sends a very wrong signal to a country that has resorted to armed …

  • US: Russians under sanctions should not be allowed to PACE

    During the press conference in Kyiv, United States Chargé d’Affaires to Ukraine William said that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should not allow the Russian delegation to include Russians who fell under US and EU sanctions, reports Hromadske TV channel.

    The politician recalled that the United States is not a member of the Council of Europe but noted that Washington opposed the decision to return Russia to this organization. He also spoke about Kyiv's efforts to prevent …

  • Russia returns to PACE, Ukraine leaves in protest

    The Ukrainian delegation left the conference hall of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a sign of protest against the Russian delegation’s reinstatement. Iryna Herashchenko, First Deputy Chairperson of Ukraine’s Parliament and a member of her country’s PACE delegation, wrote about the decision on Facebook.

    “The Ukrainian delegation has appealed the privileges of the Russian killers. The hearings on their privileges are on Thursday. Before this, we cannot sit in the …