AA13CR28
AS (2013) CR 28
2013 ORDINARY SESSION
________________________
(Fourth part)
REPORT
Twenty-eighth sitting
Monday 30 September 2013 at 11.30 a.m.
In this report:
1. Speeches in English are reported in full.
2. Speeches in other languages are reported using the interpretation and are marked with an asterisk.
3. Speeches in German and Italian are reproduced in full in a separate document.
4. Corrections should be handed in at Room 1059A not later than 24 hours after the report has been circulated.
The contents page for this sitting is given at the end of the report.
(Mr Mignon, President of the Assembly, took the Chair at 11.37 a.m.)
1. Opening of the fourth part of the 2013 ordinary session
THE PRESIDENT* – I declare open the fourth part of the 2013 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
2. Death of a Member
THE PRESIDENT* – I have some very sad news. I am sure that you are already aware that this summer, we lost our colleague Patrick Moriau, the leader of the Belgian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and a Vice-President of the Assembly. He passed away on 20 July after a long illness. He attended the Assembly even while he was seriously ill. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family, to the Belgian delegation and to you, Mr Gross, and the Socialist Group, as I know that Patrick played an important role in it. In accordance with our tradition, colleagues, I invite you to stand and observe a moment’s silence.
(A moment’s silence was observed.)
Thank you very much.
3. Address by the President
THE PRESIDENT* – I welcome our deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, to the top table. As always, of course, we are delighted that she is here with us. I also welcome the permanent representatives in Strasbourg, who are sitting down on my right hand side.
Since the last part-session, the international scene has been marked by mounting tensions in the Middle East. The civil war in Syria – the humanitarian disaster – has reached extremely disturbing proportions, with over 100 000 dead and more than two million refugees in two and a half years of violence. The recent large-scale use of weapons of mass destruction in Syria is particularly alarming.
Just a few weeks ago, international military intervention seemed imminent. Fortunately – I stress, fortunately – diplomatic efforts in various quarters made it possible to overcome this outcome.
Two weeks ago, in Geneva, I discussed the war in Syria with senior United Nations officials. On that occasion, we kept a close eye on the talks in progress between the United States Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, and the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Lavrov. I am pleased that, after two and a half years of deadlock, this resolution was finally adopted in the United Nations Security Council last Friday. The adoption of this resolution, described by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, as historic, is an encouraging development. However, the fighting goes on, with such violence that it seems difficult, even impossible, at this stage to envisage a process of political transition in Syria. Yet, as we all know, weapons never offer any solution.
We are following developments closely. As European elected representatives and members of the Parliamentary Assembly, we cannot remain silent in the face of this terrible war taking place on Europe’s borders.
Our Assembly has looked several times at the question of the humanitarian consequences of the civil war in Syria, and has suggested a series of practical measures to member States to meet the needs of the refugees and displaced persons. But that is still not enough; only an end to violence can bring about a real improvement in the situation of these thousands of people and families. That is why I consider it the Assembly’s duty today to try to make a political contribution to the resolution of this conflict. This naturally involves supporting the efforts by diplomats in our member States to outline a perspective for resolving the conflict. At the same time, a strong message must be sent to all our capitals, urging our governments to do everything in their power to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected by all belligerents.
I am delighted by the fact that our Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy has requested an urgent debate on the situation in Syria. It goes without saying that I count on your support to approve that proposal in due course.
During this part-session, we will be discussing our Monitoring Committee’s progress report. Monitoring compliance with our standards is one of this Organisation’s priorities. Collectively, we attach particular importance to this question and I am convinced that the proposals that have emerged from the informal consultations, which I started in June with the heads of national delegations, will provide constructive input for this debate.
During the session we will also discuss reports on the honouring of commitments by the Republic of Moldova and on the functioning of democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our Assembly plays a key role in democratic change in these two States and we must continue to provide them with our full support.
I am confident with regard to the Republic of Moldova. I recently made my third working visit to the country since my election as President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and commended the pro-European commitment of the authorities and all political forces. The political situation in the Republic of Moldova is, of course, still fragile, but this country’s strategic goals – progress towards Europe and compliance with our democratic and human rights standards – ought to make it possible to achieve political consolidation and to continue the necessary reforms. In this connection, I hope that the Assembly report will provide a sound basis for the launch of further targeted co-operation programmes with this country, so that the reforms can be quickly carried through to completion. I thank the Moldovan delegation for welcoming me to their country, and I thank the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Reintegration, Mr Karpov, who were all kind enough to be my hosts. We had an open and frank discussion on the political situation in Moldova, which made it possible for me to gain insight into the situation and to become firmly convinced of the commitment to a European path.
Although I usually have an optimistic outlook, I am seriously concerned about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The political situation remains tense and the reforms entered into at the time of accession are making very slow progress. The lack of progress in implementation of the Sejdić and Finci judgment is a real source of concern, given that parliamentary elections are due to be held in autumn 2014. In this connection, I fully understand the frustration of our rapporteurs: frankly, their findings leave little room for optimism.
Having said that, we must persevere on the path of dialogue, even if there is no certainty of achieving results. Personally, I do not believe that sanctions would provide a solution. I hope, therefore, that the resolution adopted on Wednesday will prove useful in giving fresh impetus to dialogue between all political forces on the execution of the Sejdić and Finci judgement and more general constitutional reform.
For my part, I will shortly be holding talks with our European Union partners, including the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr Štefan Füle, to study the possibility of co-ordinated political action at the highest level to support the reform process. Members will, of course, be aware that Štefan Füle and I have become accustomed to exchanging views on, and taking stock of the situation in, countries of common concern to us both: those countries that are not members of the European Union, but are members of the Council of Europe.
As usual, this week we will be receiving a number of eminent European figures: the President of the Republic of Armenia; the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Nikolic; the Speaker of the State Duma, Mr Naryshkin; and the current Chair of the Committee of Ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Mr Nalbandian. The fact that these eminent figures are coming to address the Assembly testifies to their support for the European project and the values promoted by the Council of Europe: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. If we are to be successful, we need this support and that of all politicians – men and women alike – in all our member States. I am counting on your contribution to ensure lively and stimulating discussion.
As a member of the Assembly since 1993, and as its President, I am proud to have participated in a series of innovative initiatives in the fields of democracy and human rights launched and supported by our Assembly. Today, I feel particularly honoured to have the opportunity to participate with you in the first ceremony to award the Council of Europe’s Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. More senior members of the Assembly will, of course, remember Vaclav Havel’s address to the Assembly, which remains one of the highlights of debates in the Parliamentary Assembly. Above all, the prize is an acknowledgement of the outstanding work done all over the world by men and women committed to the defence of human rights. It recognises all those who fight to ensure respect for human dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms and who resolutely uphold those values, often in extremely difficult conditions and at risk of their lives.
In conclusion, on behalf of the Assembly, I would like to thank the Armenian authorities for the magnificent stained-glass windows embellishing the upper façade of the Assembly Chamber. This mosaic of bridges winding towards a single goal will henceforth accompany us in our work.
Thank you very much for your attention. I wish you a successful session.
4. Credentials of the Delegation of Iceland
THE PRESIDENT* – I remind you that, at the part-session in June, the Assembly decided that the voting rights of the Iceland delegation should be suspended, in the Assembly and its bodies, with effect from the beginning of this part-session, until such time as the composition of the delegation was brought into conformity with Rule 6.2.a by the inclusion, as a very minimum, of one member of the under-represented sex as a representative.
Iceland has not yet submitted credentials for a new delegation and, until they do so, the voting rights of the Iceland delegation are suspended in accordance with Assembly Resolution 1994, adopted on 26 June.
I understand that the Parliament of Iceland intends to remedy this situation at its next meeting, tomorrow afternoon, and I look forward to the voting rights of our Icelandic colleagues being reinstated once the formal decision is notified to the Assembly.
5. Examination of Credentials
THE PRESIDENT* – The first item of business is the examination of Members’ credentials.
The names of the Members and Substitutes are in Document. 13311. If no credentials are contested, the credentials will be ratified.
The credentials are ratified.
I welcome our new colleagues.
6. Election of Vice-Presidents
THE PRESIDENT* – The next item on the Agenda is the election of Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in respect of Belgium and Italy.
Two nominations have been received: Mr Philippe Mahoux, in respect of the delegation of Belgium, and Mr Sandro Gozi, in respect of the delegation of Italy.
If there is no request for a vote in respect of any of these nominations, these Members shall be declared elected as Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, in accordance with Rule 15.4.
There is no request for a vote, so I congratulate them on their election.
7. Changes in the membership of Committees
THE PRESIDENT* – Our next item of business is to consider the changes proposed in the membership of committees. These are set out in document Commissions (2013) 07 and Addendum.
Are the proposed changes in the membership of the Assembly’s committees agreed to?
They are agreed to.
8. Proposal for Debates under Urgent Procedure
THE PRESIDENT* – Before we examine the draft agenda, the Assembly needs to consider requests for urgent procedure. You will be aware that we can organise as many debates under the urgent procedure as we wish.
The Bureau received two requests for urgent debates, on “The situation in Syria”, submitted by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, and on “European Union and Council of Europe human rights agendas: synergies not duplication!”, submitted by the European Democrat Group.
At its meeting this morning, the Bureau approved both these requests.
Does the Assembly agree to this proposal from the Bureau?
The proposals for urgent debates are agreed to.
Under Rule 25, the Bureau proposes that the matter of the situation in Syria be referred to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, and the matter of “European Union and Council of Europe human rights agendas: synergies not duplication!” be referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
The reference is agreed to.
9. Adoption of the agenda
THE PRESIDENT* – The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda for the fourth part of the 2013 ordinary session set out in Document 13295.
The draft agenda submitted for the Assembly’s approval was proposed by the Bureau at its meetings on 2 September and this morning.
Is the draft agenda agreed to?
It is agreed to.
Arrangements for the organisation of debates, speakers’ lists, tabling of amendments and the timing of speeches are set out in each sitting’s Organisation of Debates document.
10. Time Limits on Speeches
THE PRESIDENT* – I now come to an important issue: you must respect your allotted speaking time. You will be aware that we have a wonderful new team at the top table. To enable as many members as possible to speak, the Bureau proposes that speaking time be limited to three minutes for the sittings today, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We will wait and see how many of you are in the Chamber on Friday. Is this agreed?
It is agreed.
I may make further proposals on these matters as required.
11. Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee; Observation of the Parliamentary Election in Albania
THE PRESIDENT* – The next item on the agenda is the debate on the progress report of the Bureau and Standing Committee (Document. 13307, Addendum I and II and Doc 13312) presented by Mr Davit Harutyunyan, and a presentation on the Observation of the parliamentary elections in Albania (Document. 13296) by Mr Petros Tatsopoulos, on behalf of the ad hoc committee. We will hear both presentations, before opening the debate to the floor.
The speakers list closed at noon. I remind all members that we have just agreed to limit speaking time to three minutes.
I will have to interrupt the debate at about 12.30 p.m., in order for us to witness the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize Award Ceremony. The debate will restart at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
I call Mr Harutyunyan to present the progress report. You have 13 minutes in total, which you may divide between presentation of the report and reply to the debate.
Mr Harutyunyan, you have the floor.
Mr HARUTYUNYAN (Armenia) – Dear Mr President, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to present the progress report of the Bureau and Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly. I thank the Bureau for entrusting me with this important mission.
I will not repeat the technical aspects of all events and meetings held throughout the reporting period; rather I will focus on issues of political relevance that have been in the limelight and in the Bureau’s attention. A significant issue for the Assembly remains the ongoing constitutional reform process in Hungary. This process, which started in 2011, resulted in the adoption of Resolution 1941 in June 2013 expressing the Assembly’s serious concerns about the possible erosion of democratic checks and balances within the new constitutional framework. As you know, the Assembly decided not to open a monitoring procedure for Hungary but to follow closely the situation and take stock of the progress achieved in the implementation of the aforementioned resolution. The constitutional amendments were adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 16 September after our Bureau meeting in Dubrovnik. The amendments will allow political parties to run campaigns in both state-funded and private media ahead of parliamentary and European Parliament elections slated for next year, thus removing a prior restriction for such advertisements formerly applied to private outlets. These amendments also remove a constitutional provision enabling the government to launch new taxes due to so-called unexpected payment obligations, a clause that the European Commission had flagged as particularly troublesome.
At its meeting in Dubrovnik on 2 September, the Bureau voted unanimously in favour of referring the question of the situation in Hungary to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report, and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for opinion, with the confidence that these three committees would deal with the issue in an exhaustive manner. Despite the criticism of the newly adopted constitutional amendments by a number of human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, the Assembly believes that effective co-operation between the Hungarian authorities and the Council of Europe – in particular with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe committees and the Venice Commission – will allow all outstanding issues related to the Hungarian Constitution to be brought in line with our standards.
Another issue of particular importance is the motion that suggests increasing effective functioning of the Assembly by extension of the mandate of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly to the term of three years. There was a lively debate in the Bureau meeting in Dubrovnik. The Bureau, by 12 votes in favour, with seven against and four abstentions, decided to give no further action to this motion.
Dear colleagues, the situation in our neighbouring regions is another outstanding issue, and is at the centre of the attention of the world community, including our own Assembly. We witnessed the domino effect that followed revolutionary aspirations in Egypt and Tunisia – their impact on countries in the immediate vicinity. Media and social networks, as well as a common regional language, played a dominant role in the spreading of those aspirations over the borders. The overthrows in Tunisia and Egypt two years ago were achieved through peaceful protests and in a speedy, revolutionary way that most experts deemed impossible, especially in that part of the world.
The matter of most urgency that directly concerns us is which political force is taking power following revolutions, and what impact it might exercise over regional stability and our relations with these countries. To what extent might we be realistic and optimistic on whether and when democratic values prevail there? The Arab revolutionaries are sometimes unknown and there is even more uncertainty about what ideologies they sympathise with. One may assume that some of the revolutions pave the way for really democratic changes. Others enjoy radical Islamic sympathies, and some have legitimate disgust with corruption and the excessive longevity of their rulers.
That brings me to another comment: that recent developments in Egypt have provoked a debate on where democracy starts and where democracy ends. What deserves our attention and merits thorough analysis is the confusion and misuse of the notion of democracy and democratic values. How will you prevent an elected majority from turning into an elected dictatorship? These are questions on which I am convinced that our Assembly as a guardian of representative democracy should take a stance.
Colleagues, the situation is rather different with Syria. The Syria conflict does not imply a mere internal political change within the country; it has the potential to change significantly the regional balance of power, with all international actors weighing the gains and losses of their future regional status and influence. Its geopolitical implications are of transnational significance involving different ethnic and religious groups, and are full of the danger of political radicalisation and polarisation of society, while containing big risks of both a regional and an international character.
Recalling the discussion on possible military intervention in Syria, particularly through a surgical strike operation, the Bureau at its meeting in Dubrovnik deliberated on possible consequences and on the pros and cons of such a strategy. Let me suggest that we go along with the wide international opinion of seeking additional means of achieving the goal of settling the issue through political dialogue. Moreover, that opinion itself should not expire.
That concludes my remarks. Thank you very much for your attention.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you very much indeed, Mr Harutyunyan. You have six minutes and 15 seconds remaining.
I now call Mr Tatsopoulos to present his report on the observation of the parliamentary elections in Albania. You have three minutes.
Mr TATSOPOULOS (Greece) – Thank you, Mr President. As a member of both the pre-electoral delegation and the International Election Observation Mission to Albania, I am very pleased to be invited here today to present briefly the conclusions of the election observation report.
The ad hoc committee observed the elections as part of the International Election Observation Mission, which also comprised delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the election observation mission conducted by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The ad hoc committee met in Tirana from 21 to 24 June 2013 and met, among others, leaders and representatives of political parties running in the elections, the Chairperson of the Central Electoral Committee, representatives of civil society and the media, and members of the diplomatic corps in Tirana.
The International Election Observation Mission concluded that the parliamentary elections were competitive, with active citizens’ participation throughout the campaign and genuine respect for fundamental freedoms. It noted, however, that the atmosphere of mistrust between the two main political forces tainted the electoral environment and challenged the administration of the entire electoral process. To reinforce the democratic process in Albania, and to restore and strengthen citizens' full trust in the electoral process, the ad hoc committee calls on the Albanian authorities, in close co-operation with the Venice Commission, to take, inter alia, the following measures: to assess and improve the electoral legal framework, by taking into consideration the issues identified during the parliamentary elections of 23 June 2013, in the light of the recommendations made by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission; to make a clear distinction, both in the electoral legislation and when implementing it, between the political parties' activities and those of state institutions; to guarantee the impartial and neutral functioning of the election administration at all levels, by ensuring its genuine institutional independence; to reinforce the legal protection of persons working in electoral administration against any possible pressure coming from the state or from political parties; and, finally, to organise better training for members of the voting centre commissions, especially in rural areas, to increase their knowledge of procedures.
In concluding this presentation, on behalf of the pre-electoral mission I thank the Secretariat of the Council of Europe for its hard work, especially Mr Bogdan Torcatoriu, in bringing our efforts to a successful conclusion. Thank you for your attention.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you, Mr Tatsopoulos.
To start the debate, I call first Ms Pipili on behalf of the Group of the European People’s Party.
Ms PIPILI (Greece) – Dear Mr President, dear colleagues, I have just a few words to say. First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to act as a Council of Europe observer at the Albanian elections. I could never have imagined that the presence of so many international observers would have influenced the elections so much, so that the results were not only clear but immediately accepted by everybody there in Albania. Mr President, as you probably know, it was really hard work as, together with a colleague from the OSCE, we observed at least 10 polling stations close to Tirana.
There was no interference in the voting procedures, except for one case where a Government official was permitted to enter a voting station after it had closed and during the count, and who requested 15 ballot papers for inmates to vote. We realised something was wrong, thanks to our interpreter, who alerted us to this irregularity. We immediately notified the OSCE chief, who investigated the matter without delay. We were duly congratulated for doing so, and for staying on the job until 1.30 a.m. to ensure ballot boxes were delivered to the correct location.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you. I call Mr Gross on behalf of the Socialist Group.
Mr GROSS (Switzerland) – On behalf of the Socialist Group, I thank Mr Harutyunyan for his report and especially for focusing on the question of what to do when democracy turns sour and there is a tyranny of the majority. In that regard, we can link the progress we observe in the Arab revolution with what has been happening in some central European states. In the discussion with the Secretary-General in Dubrovnik we coined the term “majoritarianism”, in the juridical sense, to focus on that. In many central European countries the majority does not accept its own limits. They have signed the European Convention on Human Rights, which gives everybody, including the minority, powers that limit the power of the majority. That lack of respect for the minority has resulted in an undermining of the political situation in many countries, and we must do all we can to help overcome that, and to continue the learning process.
Looking south to the Arab revolution countries, that idea was stressed by the intervention of the director of the Arabic Institute in Paris in the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy. He explained that in Egypt the former Government and the new regime have made the same mistake: as the majority, they have not been politically inclusive. Those who represent the majority have to govern together with those who lost the elections, not exclusively for those who voted for them as the winners. This is another trap of majoritarianism. The director of the Arabic Institute says the anti-Islamists who are excluding the Islamists now are making the same mistake as the previous Islamist Government under Morsi, which excluded all those who did not believe in Islam and which saw itself as exclusively for the Islamic community.
Tunisia learned from that experience and did not make the same mistake. There is a trans-national communication and learning process, therefore, as we had in 1848 when we had a similar revolution. We drew that comparison two and a half years ago when the Arab revolution began. It allows us to understand these revolutions as processes in which many backward steps will be taken. It is extremely interesting that Tunisia tried to learn from what went wrong in Egypt.
The PRESIDENT (Translation) – Thank you. I call Ms Lundgren on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Ms LUNDGREN (Sweden) – On behalf of ALDE, I congratulate the rapporteur on the reports and wish to highlight the issue of “closely follow”. As we discussed in June, we must closely follow the developments in Hungary. The Assembly gave the Bureau the mandate to decide how to closely follow, and we now see in the report how that will be done. In June there were four amendments to the constitution, which were scrutinised by the Venice Commission, our expert body. Now we have a fifth amendment, as mentioned, which has not been scrutinised by the Venice Commission. Be assured, however, that others are scrutinising us. The rapporteur mentioned Human Rights Watch and others, but the European Union and Parliamentary Assembly are also looking at how we deal with these issues.
There will be an urgent debate later this week on the issue. Dear colleagues, we must make sure we are not the only ones who deal with human rights in the European context. If we are not able to take these issues on board and closely follow them, we will be challenged by the Parliamentary Assembly.
I hope one day the situation in Hungary will be in compliance with our values and standards. With good work and if we closely follow the process, I hope that can be achieved.
On behalf of ALDE, I also welcome the Georgian Parliament’s will to change its laws so it will be in compliance with our agreements. We also hope others will follow that good example so we can make sure all big and small countries follow our agreements on such issues. We must also make sure our work in election commissions and other arenas is done well.
The PRESIDENT (Translation) – Thank you. I call Mr Walter on behalf of the European Democrat Group.
Mr WALTER (United Kingdom) – First, may I congratulate my colleague and friend Davit Harutyunyan on his excellent report on the work of the Bureau and Standing Committee, and say that I think it is entirely appropriate that the leader of the Armenian delegation is presenting this report during the Armenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers? I also wish to echo your remarks earlier, Mr President, and thank the Armenian people for the new windows we have in the Hemicycle.
I want to pick up on a couple of items in the report. The last speaker mentioned the decision on Hungary. We had a two-year process in the Monitoring Committee to arrive at the report that was presented to the Assembly during our last part-session. The Assembly decided not to open a monitoring procedure, but instead to refer it to the Bureau to closely follow events in Hungary. The Bureau decided in Dubrovnik that this would be referred to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy and that the technical issues that had been brought up in the Monitoring Committee report should be referred for opinion to two other Committees: the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, which deals with media issues. That is an appropriate procedure. I hope that the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy is able to deal with this in a timely fashion and that we will not be seen to be wanting in following up on the issues that have rightly been raised by Hungary.
However, I think that it would be a mistake to keep revisiting the decision we reached when we debated this in June, which is that it is not an appropriate situation for using our monitoring procedures. There are other areas where our monitoring procedures are appropriate, but in this case there are many technical issues and many other bodies involved, including the Venice Commission. I therefore think that the procedure that has been adopted by the Bureau and approved by the Assembly is the right way to proceed.
Finally, I want to make a small point about the World Forum for Democracy, which will take place in November. I hope that it will reflect parliamentary democracy and not just be about non-governmental organisations. It is important that this Assembly is closely involved, and I hope that under your leadership, Mr President, we will ensure that it is.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you, Mr Walter. I call Mr Melnikov to speak on behalf of the Group of the Unified European Left.
Mr MELNIKOV (Russian Federation)* – We will be talking about the situation in Syria later, but discussions about Syria have resulted in a conflict between two fundamental theses, one advanced by countries that suffered through two world wars and the other advanced by a country that observed that from afar. One thesis – this was said in the Russian Federation – is that all nations are different but equal. The other thesis – this is what President Obama said recently – is that one country can be exceptional. It might be nice to say that sort of thing when speaking to one’s own citizens, but it is unacceptable in diplomatic language at the United Nations. It is a shocking assertion that harks back to the black and white propaganda films of the Third Reich. It is not something that Russia, Syria or President Putin are prepared to accept. It is a challenge to the entire international community and its collective institutions.
The United States administration made it clear that initiating military action is more important than the opinion of the Security Council. That is a double standard. When it needs the United Nations to exert pressure, it runs off to the General Assembly for support. But when it believes that it can do things alone, it does so. In that situation, can the Parliamentary Assembly and the Bureau not take a stand? The bitter lessons of history remind us that the Security Council’s decisive role is so important for peace. Undermining that will return us to the times when violence was used to resolve conflicts among nations. We must fight to strengthen the status of the Security Council and draw its importance to the attention of the United States.
THE PRESIDENT* – Please indicate, Mr Harutyunyan, whether you would like to respond now or at the end of the debate. In that case, I call Mr Fournier.
Mr FOURNIER (France)* - Although the observers noted a number of regrettable incidents, the main lesson of Albania’s parliamentary elections on 23 June concerns the responsibility shown by the new opposition, which acknowledged its defeat. That clear-headed approach was precisely what the Albanians and the international community, particularly the European Union, were hoping for. Brussels has stated legitimately that the continuation of negotiations about Albania one day acceding will depend on the stabilisation of its political life.
Beyond the European issue, we are also talking about the modernisation of the country. Structural reforms must be undertaken, and that will require the normal functioning of democratic institutions. The European Union drew a road map for Albania in November 2010, which included 12 points. There has been a stepping-up in the fight against organised crime in the country, measures have been introduced to protect childhood, and living conditions for prisoners have also been improved. Nevertheless, in a number of areas there are delays, such as pressure on the media and shortcomings in the legal system. Furthermore, economic development is still held back because of flaws in property law and contract law. There is a lack of infrastructure and human capital and a broad, parallel economy. All that has been duly noted by the European Commission, which has made the point repeatedly.
I hope that the new government will work in unison with the opposition so that they can meet these objectives swiftly and allow Albania to make up for any time lost as it heads towards European integration.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you, Mr Fournier. I now call Mrs Blondin.
Ms BLONDIN (France)* - As a member of the ad hoc committee responsible for observing the elections, I fully subscribe to Mr Tatsopoulos’s conclusions. From a legal and administrative point of view, the Albanian parliamentary elections were satisfactory. The observations of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Venice Commission were taken on board before the elections and incorporated in the new electoral code published in July 2012. The penal code was also brought into line with those recommendations.
Of course, the holding of an election does not depend only on the legal framework. The attitudes and the practices of the main political groups and their leaders during the campaign led us to fear that the vote would not change the country’s prevailing political climate and would lead only to the results being challenged for the umpteenth time, leading to further paralysis in the state. There might have been a real debate, and all too often mud-slinging characterised exchanges between political groups, which risked undermining the electoral process. The violence during certain meetings, and the assassination on the first day of the vote, led us to believe that things could easily have gone off the rails. Although such incidents are unacceptable in a modern democracy, fortunately they were isolated.
Finally, the real success relates to Sali Berisha’s recognition that his party had been defeated, which opens up – there is no denying this – new prospects for his country. It will need to draw on all those of good will to make the necessary reforms in order to attain European Union candidate country status. The European perspective was endorsed last July by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, during the Brdo summit in Slovenia. But it is clear that Albania has to improve its electoral legislation in order to eliminate the anomalies we observed during our mission. In particular, Albania needs to make a clear distinction between the activities of political parties and those of public institutions. It must ensure impartial and neutral functioning of the administration at all levels. It also needs to introduce specific health policies, because it was clear that many people who went to cast their vote had visual impairments.
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you, Ms Blondin. I must now interrupt the list of speakers so that we can move on to the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize ceremony. The debate will resume at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
12. Prize Award Ceremony: Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
THE PRESIDENT* – The next item on the agenda is the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize award ceremony. I welcome the members of the jury who have been able to join us, and the three finalists. Mr Spielmann, the President of the European Court of Human Rights, is honouring us today with his presence. I welcome you, sir. I thank the secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly and the partner organisations that have made the prize possible. I also welcome Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner. We will start with a short film on the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
A film was shown, accompanied by the following narrative:
“On 10 May 1990, the President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic entered the Assembly Chamber of the Council of Europe. It was an emotional Parliamentary Assembly that welcomed the former political dissident, the figurehead of the Velvet Revolution who, in 1989, brought an end to the communist regime. In his welcoming address, the Assembly President paid tribute to the courage of someone who had been one of the key figures of the opposition in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: “You, Mr President, are a symbol of the victory of freedom over totalitarianism.” In his speech, the philosopher-president, an atypical politician, spoke of his years of opposition when dreams took the place of hope: “Everything seems to point to the fact that we should not be afraid of dreaming of what seems impossible if we want something impossible to become a fact and a reality. Without dreaming of a better Europe we shall never be able to build it.”
Following the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which marked the end of the liberalisation process of the Prague Spring, Václav Havel remained faithful to his convictions. As chairperson of the Circle of Independent Writers, his commitment led to his plays being banned. The international community quickly became aware of this dissident. In 1977, Václav Havel co-founded Charta 77, an organisation defending human rights in Czechoslovakia. Because of his activities he was imprisoned on three occasions, for almost five years. In 1989, the crowd spontaneously placed Václav Havel at the head of the Civic Forum, an association uniting opposition movements. He became a key figure in the Velvet Revolution.
In March 2013, almost a quarter of a century later, the prize was launched in Prague to honour what Václav Havel was and what he did. The prize will be awarded each year by the Parliamentary Assembly, in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights. In the presence of the Czech Foreign Minister, the director of the Václav Havel Library and the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Charta 77 Foundation, the Assembly President said that the prize will pay tribute to the work accomplished by those in civil society whose dedicated and selfless action deserves greater publicity and recognition. ‘We all need better protection of human rights. We need personal conviction and personal sacrifice, and this is what we want to award with the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.’
The prize selection panel drew up a shortlist of three candidates: Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and the Chinese Rights Defence Network. In 1990, Mr Havel spoke in Strasbourg of the immense strength embodied by the ideals of the Council of Europe. Referring to the Organisation’s emblem, he said that for him the 12 stars did not express the idea that the Council of Europe would succeed in building a heaven on earth, as there would never be a heaven on earth, but that ‘in my opinion these 12 stars are a reminder that the world can become a better place if we have the courage to raise our eyes to the stars’. The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize pays tribute to this distinguished European, and pays tribute to all those who, through their determined and tireless work, bring us closer to the ideal of a better world.”
THE PRESIDENT* – Thank you. Allow me also to welcome Mr David Usupashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, who has just taken his seat. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all of you I would like to welcome the members of the jury. Mr Janouch, the president of the administrative board of the Charta 77 Foundation, is here with us. He welcomed us in the most marvellous circumstances in Prague, allowing us to meet there. Colleagues will all know Mr Thomas Hammarberg who was a Commissioner for Human Rights here at the Council of Europe, and who is also a former secretary-general of Amnesty International. Regrettably, Ms Nuala Mole cannot be with us, but Mr Marek Antoni Nowicki, a lawyer who specialises in human rights, is here. He is the chairman of the United Nations human rights advisory panel in Kosovo. Mr Martin Palouš, the director of the Václav Havel Library, is here, as is Christos Pourgourides, our former colleague from the Parliamentary Assembly. Mr Palouš will now take the floor and read a message from Ms Havel.
Mr PALOUŠ (Member of the Jury and Representative of the Partner Organisation, Václav Havel Library) – Thank you. This is the message from Ms Havel.
“I deeply regret that I am not able to attend this very important event, as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elects the first winner of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The creation of a human rights prize named in honour of my late husband, and the election of a candidate in the premises of such a respectable institution, sends a powerful message of hope to all human rights defenders around the world. At the same time, the prize is a continuation of the strong legacy of Václav Havel, who always, to the end of his days, used his position and moral authority to defend those struggling for freedom and democracy. I feel deep admiration and humility towards the achievements of all three candidates, and I am confident that whoever is elected they will help further advance the efforts of all human rights advocates.”
THE PRESIDENT* – Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends, I am sure you will understand that I speak with a certain amount of emotion today. This is not an ordinary ceremony. I am sure that we all looked at the images and listened to the words of Václav Havel with great emotion. Human rights cannot progress without the commitment and dedication of human rights defenders who act locally and put their own personal safety – often their lives – at risk so that our societies can become more democratic and fair. In recognition of their courage and devotion, since 2007 the Parliamentary Assembly has paid tribute to their exceptional work by granting the human rights prize. From this year, the prize will bear the name of Václav Havel, a visionary and a major European statesman, who devoted his life and political career to fighting for human rights and fundamental freedoms and against totalitarianism.
On behalf of all members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I thank our partners, the Václav Havel Library and Charta 77, and of course – Mr Ambassador – the Czech Government. I thank you all for your commitment and contributions, without which the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize could not have been established. I also turn to you, Mr Palouš, to say that, as a Frenchman, it is particularly impressive and a great honour for me to address you, as you were a fellow journeyman alongside Václav Havel and were fortunate enough to know him. I hope that, wherever he is, he is somehow listening to our words. During the events in Prague of which we have seen some photographs, I was a young man – 18 years old – and, since then, Václav Havel has stood out for me as a symbol of democracy and of the defence of human rights.
The candidates shortlisted for the first Václav Havel Human Rights Prize this year are Mr Ales Bialiatski, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Rights Defence Network in China. All three have shown their unshakable and exceptional commitment to upholding human rights.
From the early 1980s, Mr Ales Bialiatski has been fighting for human rights and fundamental freedoms. He organised the very first demonstrations against the Soviet totalitarian regime, and courageously resisted pressure and harassment by the authorities. Since 1996, the Viasna Human Rights Centre that he established has provided practical assistance to the victims of human rights violations in Belarus, while disseminating information throughout the world about the human rights situation in his country. Even after the centre was stripped of its official status in 2003, Mr Bialiatski continued his work for democracy and human rights. That commitment earned him a four-and-a-half year prison sentence in 2011 for tax evasion, following a trial that was unanimously condemned by the international community. To our very great regret, Mr Bialiatski is still in prison, and he is represented here today by his wife, Ms Pinchuk, to whom I convey the very best wishes of the entire Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has been active in the field of human rights protection since 1994. It provides citizens with legal and judicial aid and, in particular, it assists people in detention. The association makes an active contribution to the legislative process through examining draft legislation to ensure that it conforms with standards of human rights and democracy. The forthcoming presidential elections in Georgia will take place in an open, competitive and fair environment, a process to which the association made an essential contribution.
The Rights Defence Network was launched in 2005. The group brings together activists, lawyers, journalists, writers, dissidents and trade unionists, all of whom collate, share and disseminate information about human rights in China. The network is involved in the organisation of action in support of the causes that it defends. In the past seven years, many members of the network have been the target of harassment and persecution. One of them, Liu Xiaobo, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is currently sitting out an 11-year prison term for inciting subversion.
With our partners from the Václav Havel Library and Charta 77 – and in the presence of the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mr Dean Spielmann, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Nils Muižnieks, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, to all of whom I pay tribute – it is my great pleasure to announce the name of the winner of the 2013 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize: Ms Pinchuk, this year’s prize is awarded to your husband, Mr Ales Bialiatski.
Dear friends, it is with much emotion that I award the prize to Mr Ales Bialiatski, who is in prison for having defended his ideas and convictions, which are also our ideas and convictions. The award of the first Václav Havel Prize is particularly significant, because Václav Havel always defended a Europe without dividing lines and the cause of a community of democratic States that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, a vision which is far from completely fulfilled. In his fight against human rights violations, injustice and arbitrary and authoritarian rule, Mr Bialiatski has worked untiringly to uphold the rights of the citizens of Belarus so that they can one day lay claim to our European standards. It is our Assembly’s duty to support the efforts everywhere of people such as Mr Bialiatski, who uphold the important universal values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize sends out a clear political message. I congratulate you, Ms Pinchuk.
I call the representatives of our partner organisations, Mr Janouch and Mr Palouš, and the members of the jury, Mr Hammarberg, Mr Nowicki and Mr Pourgourides, to join me at the lectern. I now invite you, Ms Pinchuk, to join us for the official presentation of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. [Applause.] The plaque shows the face and signature of Václav Havel. I also present the Diploma of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I also call the two runners-up to join us to be presented with their Diplomas. Perhaps we can give another round of applause to our two finalists and, of course, to the winner. [Applause.]
Mr JANOUCH (Member of the Jury and Representative of the Partner Organisation, Charta 77) – I am deeply moved. Allow me to say a few words in Russian to the first laureate of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
(The speaker continued in Russian.)
Dear Natallia Pinchuk, I am extremely moved and very pleased that you have received the first Václav Havel Human Rights Prize for your husband. The fate of Belarus is close to our hearts and it was close to the heart of Václav Havel. I hope that the award of the prize will contribute to the speedy release of your husband and that we will shortly be able to meet him here and elsewhere in Europe.
(The speaker continued in English.)
I thank the Parliamentary Assembly and its President, Jean-Claude Mignon, for making the prize possible. I am so deeply moved because over the past 30 years, Václav Havel and I established several literary and human rights prizes that are issued by the Charta 77 Foundation in Stockholm. Those prizes promote the spirit of freedom and resistance that was found in the occupied Czechoslovakia. I am so deeply moved that it is hard for me to speak. I thank all of you for supporting the beautiful initiative of this new human rights prize, which has been born today and has delivered its first winner.
Mr PALOUŠ (Member of the Jury and Representative of the Partner Organisation, Václav Havel Library) – I congratulate the winner. The first Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is certainly in good hands. I also want to express my deep admiration of the two other finalists for their achievements, resilience, courage and determination to struggle for the noble cause of human rights.
On behalf of the Václav Havel Library, I express my deep gratitude to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and especially to you, President Mignon, for your excellent co-operation in this project. The organisation that I represent was created to preserve the legacy of the Czech President, Václav Havel. That legacy testifies to our experience of totalitarianism in the 20th century and to the power of the human spirit to resist it. It sends a message of hope that things can be changed after all, no matter how difficult or impossible the circumstances seem. It gives all of us a sense of optimism, direction and trust. It provides confidence that, in the words of Václav Havel, despite the evidence of the political realities, trust and love can prevail over lies and hatred and make our common world a better place.
Ms PINCHUK (Representing her husband, Mr Ales Bialiatski)* – Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Assembly, please allow me to express my gratitude for the high honour that you have awarded to Ales. It is a positive assessment of the many years that he has committed to fighting for truth, his principled position, his courage, his promotion of human rights and the freedom of peoples, and his love of Belarus. He made his choice as a young man when the Soviet regime was still in place and when not many people believed in the break-up of the Soviet Union. That is when he made fighting for an independent and democratic Belarus the priority for his whole life. Even at that time, he accepted the risk. He printed samizdat materials and had them distributed. Unfortunately, the road to freedom for Belarus has turned out to be long and dangerous.
In order to combat human rights violations and support a democratic transformation, Ales created a human rights defence organisation in 1996 called Viasna, or Spring. Unfortunately, its activities have been banned and he has been arrested on a number of occasions. He has now been in prison for a long period – more than two years already. Things are not easy for him in the Babriusk penal colony. He is held in more difficult circumstances than the ordinary detainees. He is not allowed to meet family members, his contact with other detainees is limited and he is not given parcels that are sent to him. A lot of pressure is being put on him to write an act of contrition and send it to Lukashenko.
The prisons of Belarus do not just hold Ales; there are 10 other political prisoners who deliberately chose to put their personal freedom at risk to fight falsehood and brute force. The human rights situation in Belarus is not improving. In fact, it is deteriorating. Repression by the authorities of their own people is rising to a level that has never been seen in a civilised country. Recent events testify to that. There have been many arrests and the totalitarian persecution of all citizens who do not toe the line is unparalleled. I very much hope that European countries – the bearers of the values of democracy and freedom – will not change their position one iota. The unconditional liberation, release and full rehabilitation of all political prisoners must be a condition for contacts with the Minsk authorities.
The award of this prize is a natural and logical act of support for and solidarity with not only Ales, but all Belarusian society. It is important and distinctive that the prize bears the name of Václav Havel, a man who stands as a symbol of the conscience of Europe and of democratic transformation. Ales has said that Havel was his spiritual mentor. He sent a postcard from prison bearing a quote by Vaclav Havel, which was shown on the film: “Hope is certainly not the same thing as optimism; it is not a conviction that everything will turn out all right, but rather a belief that everything you do has a meaning independently and regardless of how things turn out.” Even now, when Ales finds himself in such dire straits, these words continue to give meaning to his life.
Shortly before Vaclav Havel passed away, he sent a letter of support to Ales in prison. When paying tribute to the memory of his great Czech mentor, Ales wrote: “This letter of support signed by Vaclav Havel is now my most valuable possession here in prison. You know great and giant stars always pass away eventually, but the light they radiate continues to banish darkness. In the same way, Vaclav Havel’s letter continues to be a shining torch for me, even after his death.” I also hope that this shining torch of solidarity—the solidarity of Havel and of all of you—will help Ales to come out victorious in his struggle for truth and to survive all the difficulties and hardships that he is experiencing. Thank you very much for your attention.
13. Next Public Business
THE PRESIDENT* – The Assembly will hold its next public sitting this afternoon at 3 p.m. with the agenda that was approved this morning.
The sitting is closed.
(The sitting was closed at 1.05 p.m.)
CONTENTS
1. Opening of the fourth part of the 2013 ordinary session
2. Death of a Member
3. Address by the President
4. Credentials of the delegation of Iceland
5. Examination of credentials
6. Election of Vice-Presidents
7. Changes in the membership of Committees
8. Proposal for debates under urgent procedure
9. Adoption of the agenda
10. Time limits on speeches
11. Progress report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee Observation of the election in Albania
Presentation by Mr Harutyunyan of progress report
Presentation by Mr Tatsopoulos of observation
Speakers: Ms Pipili, Mr Gross, Ms Lundgren, Mr Walter, Mr Melnikov, Mr Fournier, Ms Blondin
12. Prize award ceremony: Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
13. Next public business
Appendix
Representatives or Substitutes who signed the Attendance Register in accordance with Rule 11.2 of the Rules of Procedure. The names of Substitutes who replaced absent Representatives are printed in small letters. The names of those who were absent or apologised for absence are followed by an asterisk
Pedro AGRAMUNT
Miloš ALIGRUDIĆ
Jean-Charles ALLAVENA
Karin ANDERSEN
Lord Donald ANDERSON/Ingjerd Schou
Paride ANDREOLI
Khadija ARIB*
Volodymyr ARIEV
Francisco ASSIS*
Danielle AUROI/Christian Bataille
Daniel BACQUELAINE/Dirk Van Der Maelen
Theodora BAKOYANNIS
David BAKRADZE*
Taulant BALLA
Gérard BAPT/Pierre-Yves Le Borgn'
Gerard BARCIA DUEDRA/Silvia Eloïsa Bonet Perot
Doris BARNETT*
José Manuel BARREIRO/Ángel Pintado
Deniz BAYKAL
Marieluise BECK*
José María BENEYTO*
Levan BERDZENISHVILI
Deborah BERGAMINI*
Sali BERISHA/Oerd Bylykbashi
Anna Maria BERNINI*
Teresa BERTUZZI*
Robert BIEDROŃ
Gülsün BİLGEHAN
Brian BINLEY*
Ľuboš BLAHA/Darina Gabániová
Philippe BLANCHART*
Delia BLANCO
Jean-Marie BOCKEL/Jean-Pierre Michel
Eric BOCQUET/Bernadette Bourzai
Mladen BOJANIĆ
Olga BORZOVA
Mladen BOSIĆ/Nermina Kapetanović
António BRAGA*
Anne BRASSEUR
Alessandro BRATTI*
Márton BRAUN*
Gerold BÜCHEL/Rainer Gopp
André BUGNON
Natalia BURYKINA
Sylvia CANEL*
Nunzia CATALFO
Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU*
Mikael CEDERBRATT*
Özlem CEKIC*
Elena CENTEMERO*
Lorenzo CESA*
Otto CHALOUPKA/Pavel Lebeda
Irakli CHIKOVANI
Vannino CHITI*
Tudor-Alexandru CHIUARIU*
Christopher CHOPE
Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN
Desislav CHUKOLOV*
Lolita ČIGĀNE
Boriss CILEVIČS
Henryk CIOCH
James CLAPPISON*
Deirdre CLUNE
Agustín CONDE*
Telmo CORREIA*
Paolo CORSINI*
Carlos COSTA NEVES*
Celeste COSTANTINO*
Jonny CROSIO*
Katalin CSÖBÖR*
Milena DAMYANOVA
Joseph DEBONO GRECH*
Armand De DECKER*
Roel DESEYN*
Manlio DI STEFANO*
Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA
Peter van DIJK*
Şaban DİŞLİ
Aleksandra DJUROVIĆ
Jim DOBBIN*
Karl DONABAUER/Edgar Mayer
Ioannis DRAGASAKIS/Petros Tatsopoulos
Damian DRĂGHICI
Daphné DUMERY*
Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE*
Josette DURRIEU
Mikuláš DZURINDA*
Baroness Diana ECCLES*
Tülin ERKAL KARA
Joseph FENECH ADAMI
Cătălin Daniel FENECHIU
Vyacheslav FETISOV/Alexey Ivanovich Aleksandrov
Doris FIALA
Daniela FILIPIOVÁ
Axel E. FISCHER*
Jana FISCHEROVÁ*
Gvozden Srećko FLEGO
Bernard FOURNIER
Hans FRANKEN
Jean-Claude FRÉCON
Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO
Erich Georg FRITZ
Martin FRONC
Sir Roger GALE
Adele GAMBARO*
Karl GARÐARSON
Ruslan GATTAROV
Tamás GAUDI NAGY*
Nadezda GERASIMOVA
Valeriu GHILETCHI
Francesco Maria GIRO*
Michael GLOS*
Pavol GOGA
Jarosław GÓRCZYŃSKI/Iwona Guzowska
Alina Ştefania GORGHIU
Svetlana GORYACHEVA
Sandro GOZI
Fred de GRAAF*
Martin GRAF*
Sylvi GRAHAM
Patrick De GROOTE*
Andreas GROSS
Arlette GROSSKOST/Frédéric Reiss
Dzhema GROZDANOVA
Attila GRUBER*
Gergely GULYÁS*
Pelin GÜNDEŞ BAKIR*
Antonio GUTIÉRREZ
Ana GUŢU
Maria GUZENINA-RICHARDSON
Carina HÄGG
Sabir HAJIYEV
Andrzej HALICKI/Marek Borowski
Hamid HAMID
Mike HANCOCK
Margus HANSON
Davit HARUTYUNYAN
Håkon HAUGLI
Norbert HAUPERT
Alfred HEER
Martin HENRIKSEN*
Andres HERKEL
Adam HOFMAN
Jim HOOD
Joachim HÖRSTER
Arpine HOVHANNISYAN
Anette HÜBINGER
Andrej HUNKO
Ali HUSEYNLI
Rafael HUSEYNOV/Sahiba Gafarova
Vladimir ILIĆ
Florin IORDACHE
Igor IVANOVSKI
Tadeusz IWIŃSKI/Zbigniew Girzyński
Denis JACQUAT
Gediminas JAKAVONIS
Stella JANTUAN
Tedo JAPARIDZE*
Ramón JÁUREGUI*
Michael Aastrup JENSEN*
Mogens JENSEN*
Jadranka JOKSIMOVIĆ*
Ögmundur JÓNASSON
Čedomir JOVANOVIĆ/Svetislava Bulajić
Antti KAIKKONEN/Riitta Myller
Ferenc KALMÁR*
Božidar KALMETA/Ivan Račan
Mariusz KAMIŃSKI
Deniza KARADJOVA
Marietta KARAMANLI/Maryvonne Blondin
Ulrika KARLSSON
Burhan KAYATÜRK*
Jan KAŹMIERCZAK*
Serhii KIVALOV
Bogdan KLICH
Serhiy KLYUEV/Volodymyr Pylypenko
Haluk KOÇ
Igor KOLMAN*
Attila KORODI
Alev KORUN*
Tiny KOX
Borjana KRIŠTO*
Dmitry KRYVITSKY/Yury Shamkov
Václav KUBATA/Miroslav Krejča
Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ
Athina KYRIAKIDOU/Stella Kyriakides
Jean-Yves LE DÉAUT*
Igor LEBEDEV/Sergey Kalashnikov
Harald LEIBRECHT*
Orinta LEIPUTĖ
Christophe LÉONARD*
Valentina LESKAJ
Terry LEYDEN
Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE
Lone LOKLINDT/Nikolaj Villumsen
François LONCLE
George LOUKAIDES
Yuliya L'OVOCHKINA*
Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ
Philippe MAHOUX
Thierry MARIANI
Epameinondas MARIAS
Milica MARKOVIĆ*
Meritxell MATEU PI
Pirkko MATTILA
Frano MATUŠIĆ
Liliane MAURY PASQUIER
Michael McNAMARA*
Sir Alan MEALE*
Ermira MEHMETI DEVAJA*
Ivan MELNIKOV
Nursuna MEMECAN
José MENDES BOTA*
Jean-Claude MIGNON/Marie-Jo Zimmermann
Djordje MILIĆEVIĆ/Vesna Marjanović
Jerzy MONTAG/Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel
Rubén MORENO PALANQUES
Igor MOROZOV
João Bosco MOTA AMARAL
Arkadiusz MULARCZYK
Melita MULIĆ
Lydia MUTSCH*
Lev MYRYMSKYI*
Philippe NACHBAR*
Oľga NACHTMANNOVÁ
Marian NEACŞU
Fritz NEUGEBAUER
Baroness Emma NICHOLSON/Charles Kennedy
Michele NICOLETTI*
Brynjar NÍELSSON*
Elena NIKOLAEVA
Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI
Mirosława NYKIEL/Grzegorz Czelej
Judith OEHRI
Carina OHLSSON
Joseph O'REILLY
Lesia OROBETS
Sandra OSBORNE/Michael Connarty
José Ignacio PALACIOS
Liliana PALIHOVICI*
Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS
Eva PARERA/Jordi Xuclà
Ganira PASHAYEVA*
Johannes PFLUG*
Foteini PIPILI
Ivan POPESCU
Marietta de POURBAIX-LUNDIN
Cezar Florin PREDA
John PRESCOTT*
Jakob PRESEČNIK
Gabino PUCHE*
Alexey PUSHKOV*
Mailis REPS
Eva RICHTROVÁ
Andrea RIGONI*
François ROCHEBLOINE/André Schneider
Maria de Belém ROSEIRA*
René ROUQUET
Marlene RUPPRECHT
Pavlo RYABIKIN
Rovshan RZAYEV/ Fazil Mustafa
Vincenzo SANTANGELO
Kimmo SASI
Deborah SCHEMBRI
Stefan SCHENNACH
Marina SCHUSTER
Urs SCHWALLER*
Senad ŠEPIĆ*
Samad SEYIDOV
Jim SHERIDAN*
Oleksandr SHEVCHENKO
Boris SHPIGEL/Evgeny Tarlo
Arturas SKARDŽIUS/Algis Kašėta
Ladislav SKOPAL*
Leonid SLUTSKY
Serhiy SOBOLEV
Lorella STEFANELLI
Yanaki STOILOV
Christoph STRÄSSER
Karin STRENZ
Ionuţ-Marian STROE
Valeriy SUDARENKOV
Björn von SYDOW
Petro SYMONENKO*
Vilmos SZABÓ*
Chiora TAKTAKISHVILI*
Vyacheslav TIMCHENKO
Romana TOMC*
Lord John E. TOMLINSON
Mihai TUDOSE/Daniel Florea
Ahmet Kutalmiş TÜRKEŞ*
Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ*
Theodora TZAKRI
Konstantinos TZAVARAS
Tomáš ÚLEHLA*
Ilyas UMAKHANOV/Alexander Ter-Avanesov
Petrit VASILI
Volodymyr VECHERKO/Larysa Melnychuk
Mark VERHEIJEN
Anne-Mari VIROLAINEN
Vladimir VORONIN/Grigore Petrenco
Klaas de VRIES
Nataša VUČKOVIĆ
Zoran VUKČEVIĆ
Draginja VUKSANOVIĆ
Piotr WACH
Johann WADEPHUL
Robert WALTER
Dame Angela WATKINSON*
Katrin WERNER
Karin S. WOLDSETH/Øyvind Vaksdal
Gisela WURM*
Barbara ŽGAJNER TAVŠ*
Emanuelis ZINGERIS*
Guennady ZIUGANOV*
Naira ZOHRABYAN
Levon ZOURABIAN*
Vacant Seat, Cyprus*
ALSO PRESENT
Representatives and Substitutes not authorised to vote
Maria GIANNAKAKI
Kerstin LUNDGREN
Eduard SHALSI
Spyridon TALIADOUROS
Konstantinos TRIANTAFYLLOS
Observers
Eloy CANTU SEGOVIA
Miguel ROMO MEDINA
Partners for Democracy
Bernard SABELLA