Contents tagged with Council of Europe
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Council of Europe: Russia must take responsibility for MH17 catastrophe
The Council of Europe has adopted a declaration which asks Russia to admit responsibility for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, RBC reports.
“The EU calls on Russia to take responsibility and to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation,” the declaration reads.
On 19 July, the international Joint Investigation Team (JIT) pressed charges against four suspects for complicity in the incident: the Russian citizens Major-General Sergey “Gloomy” …
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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 …
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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 …
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MH17 disaster foundation opposes Russia’s reinstatement in PACE
The Dutch MH17 Disaster Foundation, Stichting Vliegramp, founded to assist the families of those killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight that was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, has demanded the deferment of Russia’s reinstatement in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Telegraaf reports, citing a letter from the organization to the PACE.
The foundation is concerned that Russia did not collaborate with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that investigated the …
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Council of Europe threatens to reject Russian passports issued in Donbas
The Council of Europe (COE) is prepared to consider rejecting Russian passports issued to Donbas residents in breach of the Minsk Agreements. The COE has also called on Moscow to unconditionally release the Ukrainian sailors captured near the Kerch Strait and to grant all vessels safe passage into the Sea of Azov.
Russian passports issued to inhabitants of the Donbas may not be recognized by the EU, Russia’s Federal News Agency reports, citing a statement by the COE.
“The Council of Europe …
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Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Council of Europe will lose credibility if Russia regains voting rights
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius said that by restoring Russia’s voting rights, the Council of Europe (CoE) risks losing credibility and influence, BNS reports.
“If the Council of Europe continues to think that the involvement of all countries is of greater value than the principles of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, which this organization was created to protect, then, over time, this could become an institutional problem that undermines the credibility of …
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Media: Council of Europe paves way for possible lifting of sanctions against Russia
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe supported the draft decision to change the imposing of sanctions against countries that violate the Charter of the Organization. According to Ukrayinska Pravda, this decision allows Russia to return to the Council of Europe under an emergency procedure.
The Committee met in Strasbourg on Tuesday, May 14. According to sources, 39 of the 47 Member States supported the draft of Ministerial decision.
The central idea of the decision is to …
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Ukraine will withdraw from Minsk agreements if the Council of Europe lifts Russian sanctions
Ukraine is willing to desist from implementing the Minsk Agreements if several European states agree to loosen sanctions against the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe, stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
“A lot of people asked me yesterday how the Council of Europe will (move forward on the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation). I told them honestly that if they choose to follow several other countries, I’ll go out and say …
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Secretary of European Council hopes for Russia’s return to PACE before summer session
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, in an interview with AFP, once again criticized the possible withdrawal or expulsion of Russia from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), calling it a "dramatic event."
However, the CE Secretary General is convinced that "there are good chances for resolving the conflict with Moscow," which will allow Russia to avoid a possible exit from PACE, writes the Deutsche Welle Russian service.
According to …
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Macron hopes Russia will remain a member of the Council of Europe
During a meeting with CE Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he hopes that Russia will remain a member of the Council of Europe despite its disagreements with the other members of the organization, reported in Le Figaro.
“I hope Russia will remain a member of the Council of Europe,” said Macron as he welcomed Jagland to the Elysée Palace.
France will take over the presidency of the Council of Europe in mid-May.
Previously, it was reported in the …