AA15CR28
AS (2015) CR 28
2015 ORDINARY SESSION
________________
(Fourth part)
REPORT
Twenty-eighth sitting
Monday 28 September 2015 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. The text of the amendments is available at the document centre and on the Assembly’s website. Only oral amendments or oral sub-amendments are reproduced in the report of debates.
4. Speeches in German and Italian are reproduced in full in a separate document.
5. 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.
(Ms Brasseur, President of the Assembly, took the Chair at 11.35 a.m.)
1. Opening of the fourth part of the 2015 ordinary session
THE PRESIDENT* – I declare open the fourth part of the 2015 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
2. Death of a member
The PRESIDENT – Dear colleagues, I have to start my introductory remarks on a very sad note. This summer, one of our youngest colleagues, Philipp Missfelder of the German delegation, passed away at the age of only 35. We will remember him as an active participant in our debates, a committed European and a true friend. My condolences go to the German delegation, as well of course to the family of Mr Missfelder. I would also like to pay tribute to two of our interpreter colleagues who passed away during the summer: Dmitri Golybine from the Russian booth and Bernardo Ghionda from the Italian booth. Their voices will be missed. Allow me, dear colleagues, to call for a moment’s silence to pay tribute to the memory of our colleagues and friends.
3. Opening statement by the President
The PRESIDENT – The period between our part-sessions was marked by a dramatic and unprecedented aggravation of the refugee crisis. “We are sleepwalking to disaster if we do not work together.” Those were my words when I addressed the 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in early September, urging the speakers of parliaments of the world to work together because no one can find a solution alone, and drawing the attention of governments to the need to raise awareness of the refugee drama and show much greater solidarity. While in New York I discussed the issue with a number of speakers and international partners. More recently, I spoke about the refugee drama with the President of the European Parliament, Mr Schulz, and the leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups during a joint meeting with our presidential committee. Clearly, we are facing a crisis which requires a bold, straightforward and collective response at pan-European level. It also requires us to look ahead and not to react a step behind developments, as we have been doing in the last couple of months. Our Assembly is already actively involved. As you know, the migration phenomenon and our response to the refugee drama have been the focus of my activities as President since the beginning of my mandate. With your support, we organised a visit by parliamentarians to the refugee camps in Turkey to encourage our parliamentarians to raise awareness among their governments and citizens of the scope and magnitude of the challenge. We launched a campaign to end the immigration detention of children. We are organising visits by parliamentarians to detention centres for migrants all over Europe on 18 December, International Migrants Day.
During all my official visits, particularly to Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Serbia, to the United Nations institutions in New York and in Geneva and to the European Union institutions, I have discussed migration and asylum challenges. I could feel a strong sense of solidarity with the refugees and an understanding of the gravity of the problem and the need to take urgent action. Today we must act. It is no use continuing to talk and talk; we must make positive actions in all our countries.
On Tuesday — that is, tomorrow — we will hopefully have a thematic debate about Europe’s political and humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, with the participation of Ms Laura Boldrini, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy and former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) high official. In our debates, we will focus specifically on the need to review Europe’s asylum policies and regulations and on the challenges faced by the countries of transit. I hope you will support this proposal when we come to adopting the agenda of our part-session.
While I do not want to pre-empt the results of this debate, let me highlight three issues that I believe are crucially important and must be taken into consideration. First, our priority must be to save lives and provide shelter and support to all those who require international protection. This is our shared duty and an international responsibility. I welcome the recent European Union decision to relocate 120 000 refugees. Governments need to stand up to their responsibilities, show leadership and bravely take bold decisions, although they may be unpopular and seen as wrong by some. I emphasise, however, that I regret that this decision came so late, after dozens of thousands of people had already crossed European Union borders.
The figures are significant, but not insurmountable for a continent as large and wealthy as Europe. The solutions we come up with should not be short-term fixes; we must think strategically and anticipate developments, as we know with certainty that many more people will be coming. We must take into account the future implications of the current crisis by putting in place medium and long-term integration measures for new arrivals as well as for host societies. We must keep in mind the wider context and address not only the immediate consequences of the refugee drama but its root causes: war, conflicts, poverty and famine. The refugee drama is a global problem which requires global solutions and global solidarity.
Secondly, in reflecting on our response to the refugee crisis, we should keep in mind our standards and values. Any person arriving in the territory of one of our 47 member States is entitled to the same fundamental rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. I welcome the Secretary General’s initiative to forward guidance to our governments on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers to ensure respect for their human rights. But rights come with responsibilities, and we must help those who arrive in Europe to understand and apprehend those.
Thirdly, as we talk today about our immediate response to the crisis, we should not lose sight of the wider picture: the migration phenomenon and its implications for our societies. Many asylum seekers who come to Europe will stay as refugees. We want them to become active members of our societies. We want them to contribute to our economies and enrich our cultural and linguistic environment. We cannot afford to marginalise them. I have said on numerous occasions that we must break the negative stereotypes about migrants and refugees and value the benefits and opportunities that they can offer to our societies. This is all the more important, as populist and xenophobic rhetoric is on the rise.
We must put in place policies that say no to hatred. I had the immense honour of discussing the issue 10 days ago with His Holiness Pope Francis, who received me in a private audience in the Vatican. I was honoured that His Holiness agreed to support our No Hate Parliamentary Alliance. As you know, I have been actively promoting the alliance in all my official visits and bilateral meetings, and I will continue to do so with great enthusiasm not only at the European level but globally in our contacts with international partners. The Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament and I have launched the idea of establishing a European day for victims of hate crime. I hope that with the support of parliamentarians from all 47 Council of Europe member States, that initiative will eventually take shape.
Keeping in mind the wider context, I cannot avoid mentioning intercultural dialogue, our tool to combat the root causes of intolerance and hate and promote better cohesion and integration in our societies. As the former rapporteur on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, I have been paying particular attention to the issue of living together in all my activities. This week, we will consider Mr Huseynov’s report on freedom of religion and living together in a democratic society. The report picks up on the Assembly’s earlier idea to establish a stable platform for dialogue with senior representatives of religions and non-denominational organisations in order to foster active commitment by all. I urge you to support this idea, which the Pope also suggested when he addressed our Assembly on 25 November. He spoke about creating an agora where we could meet to exchange views. I am glad that, under the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Committee of Ministers has made inter-religious dialogue one of its priorities. I look forward to attending the Committee’s meeting in November.
(The speaker continued in French.)
Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, today we are preparing to award the Václav Havel human rights prize for the third time. On this occasion, I am sorry to have to declare that the dream of Václav Havel and of the great Europeans who founded the Council of Europe — the dream of a Europe united by a belief in democracy and human rights — is still a long way from being fully realised. In some member States, human rights defenders and civil society activists confront a whole panoply of problems, such as restrictive laws, complex and inappropriate administrative procedures and, even worse, pressure, intimidation, including physical intimidation, and reprisals. Unfortunately, all too often, human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations are forced to operate in extremely difficult conditions or even illegally and clandestinely.
That is unacceptable in a democratic society and in any Council of Europe member State. We must condemn such abuses as strongly as possible. Ever since I became President of this Assembly, I have made that my rule, issuing numerous public statements and raising the matters concerned at bilateral meetings. I have consistently called for the release of political prisoners, wherever they are held in Europe. The first winner of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, Mr Ales Bialiatski, spent three years in prison in Belarus for standing up for democratic ideals–the same ideals promoted by the Council of Europe. Belarus is not a member State of the Council of Europe, but he defended our values in that country. It was a great honour, following his release, to receive him as a guest during his visit to the Council of Europe last year. He came to thank us for contributing to his release. Last year’s prize-winner, Mr Anar Mammadli, is still in detention in Azerbaijan and I greatly regret that I was unable to see him during my visit to the country. I have, however, met other political prisoners and members of their families in Baku and Strasbourg in order to convey our sympathy and support, and I intend to continue to do so.
Over the past two years, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated significantly. The people targeted, the type of charges, the length of the sentences and the blatant irregularities in the conduct of the trials cast doubt on the authorities’ willingness to respect the fundamental values of the Council of Europe. The recent convictions of Leyla Yunus, Arif Yunus and Khadidja Ismailova are deeply troubling. It is high time Azerbaijan changed its attitude to human rights and engaged in a root-and-branch effort to tackle systemic problems in the functioning of the judiciary and respect for media freedom and freedom of association and assembly. With Azerbaijan due to hold parliamentary elections in just over a month’s time, this is all the more important.
As you know, this morning the Bureau considered whether the Assembly should observe the elections in the light of the decision by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to cancel its observation mission. The Azerbaijani authorities’ decision to impose tight restrictions on the deployment of long and short-term ODIHR observers makes it impossible for this institution – our key partner in election observation – to carry out thorough, comprehensive observation in accordance with its well-established and deeply entrenched methods and practices.
I voiced serious concerns about this decision to the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, whom I met in New York, and urged him to work with the competent authorities in Azerbaijan to ensure that the ODIHR observation mission is fully deployed in the appropriate manner. Most regrettably, the Azerbaijani authorities seem unwilling to reconsider their position.
This morning the Bureau confirmed its decision, which is within its competence, to send an observer mission to Baku on 1 November 2015. In the absence of long and short-term ODIHR observers it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for our ad hoc mission fully to verify whether the elections in Azerbaijan are in line with the values and standards of our Organisation. Without an ODIHR observation mission we will not have a complete picture of the electoral process, and I am sure that our ad hoc observation mission will take that into consideration in reaching its decisions.
As usual, we will play host to numerous political leaders this week. I am particularly proud that during my presidency the list of visitors to the Chamber will include their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, accompanied by the Speaker of the Luxembourg Parliament, Mr Mars Di Bartolomeo, and the Minister of Family Affairs and Integration, Ms Corinne Cahen. As President of the Assembly and a Luxemburger I shall be proud to welcome their Royal Highnesses.
We look forward to hearing from the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Denis Zvizdić, and the Prime Minister of Serbia, Mr Aleksandar Vučić, as well as from the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Mr Igor Crndak, and the Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ms Laura Boldrini. I am delighted that the Parliamentary Assembly is continuing to provide a forum for discussion for senior political figures.
(The speaker continued in English.)
This is going to be the last plenary part-session at which I preside, so in concluding my introductory remarks allow me to make a general observation.
The past two years were not good for human rights and for the values that our Organisation defends. Let me give you a few examples of the many challenges we face: the refugee drama; the rise of radicalism and the barbaric terrorist attacks in the heart of Europe as well as in our neighborhood; the conflict in Ukraine; and the involvement of Russia.
The ending of violence and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity will remain a priority for us. Equally, supporting Ukraine in its efforts to reform its institutions will remain at the top of our agenda, as Ukraine needs solid democratic institutions based on the rule of law to pursue its European agenda.
In the past two years, we have seen some positive developments and I should like to emphasise the quick and extraordinary mobilisation of all stakeholders against violent extremism and terrorism following the Charlie Hebdo attack, the No Hate movement and the launch of the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance, as well as the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention, to give but a few examples.
Yet, the challenges to our values remain enormous. In responding to them, our Assembly must stay united. Every single voice is important. Every single action we take within our national parliaments, at European and international level, counts.
In the past two years I saw an extraordinary mobilisation of our Assembly whenever the very foundations of our values were challenged. Thanks to our common efforts and commitments, our Assembly has taken bold and principled positions whenever the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe were undermined.
During my presidency I have had the support of our fantastic staff. I know that I have been demanding and that they have had a lot to do, so I thank all the staff of the Council of Europe. I have enjoyed good co-operation with the Committee of Ministers and with you, Secretary General. I thank very much the Secretary General of the Assembly, Wojciech Sawicki, for all his work. I should add that I will remain a member of the Assembly and continue our work.
Before concluding, I should like to mention two colleagues who will leave our Assembly. Mr Mota Amaral has been an outstanding member over many years. This will be Andy Gross’s last part-session and I thank him on behalf of all of us for the very good work he has done. I also thank the other colleagues for whom this is their last part-session. (Applause)
4. Examination of credentials
THE PRESIDENT – The first item on the agenda is the examination of credentials of new members. The names of the members and substitutes are in Document 13882. If no credentials are challenged, the credentials will be ratified.
Are any credentials challenged? That is not the case.
The credentials are ratified.
5. Election of a vice-president
THE PRESIDENT – The next item on the agenda is the election of a vice-president of the Assembly in respect of Denmark. The chairperson of the Danish delegation has proposed Mr Michael Aastrup Jensen. If there is no request for a vote, he will be declared elected. Since there has been no request for a vote, I declare Mr Jensen elected as a vice-president of the Assembly. He takes precedence following the vice-presidents previously elected. I congratulate Mr Jensen on his election and thank him for taking on this very difficult task.
6. Changes in the membership of committees
THE PRESIDENT – Our next business is to consider the changes proposed in the membership of committees set out in Document Commissions (2015) 07 and Addendum 1.
Are the proposed changes in the membership of the Assembly’s committees agreed to?
The changes are agreed to.
7. Proposal for a current affairs debate
THE PRESIDENT – Before we examine the draft agenda, the Assembly must consider a request from the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for a current affairs debate entitled, “A comprehensive humanitarian and political response to the migration and refugee crisis in Europe”. At its meeting this morning, the Bureau approved this request. Does the Assembly agree to the recommendation of the Bureau that there should be a current affairs debate on this topic as set out in the draft agenda for this part-session?
There are no objections, so the Assembly agrees to these arrangements. At its meeting this morning, the Bureau decided that the debate will be opened by Mr Pedro Agramunt.
8. Adoption of the agenda
THE PRESIDENT – The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda for the fourth part of the 2015 ordinary session, Document Doc. 13862 prov. 2. The draft agenda submitted for the Assembly's approval was drawn up by the Bureau on 31 August and updated this morning. The current affairs debate to which we have just agreed will take place on Tuesday afternoon as the first item of business.
On Tuesday afternoon, we will have the current affairs debate on “A comprehensive humanitarian and political response to the migration and refugee crisis in Europe”, followed by the joint debate on two reports from the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, on asylum and on transit countries. There will be separate speakers lists for the two debates, but since they relate to the same subject, the Bureau has decided that members should be allowed to appear on only one of the two speakers lists to avoid having some people speaking twice while others cannot take the floor because so many members want to speak in the debate.
Is the draft agenda, as amended, agreed?
The draft agenda, as amended, is adopted.
9. Time limits on speeches
THE PRESIDENT – It is clear that there will be a large number of speakers in certain debates, so the Bureau proposes that speaking time be limited to three minutes on Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Is that agreed?
It is agreed.
10. Communication from the Committee of Ministers
THE PRESIDENT – We now come to the communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly presented by Mr Igor Crnadak, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers. After his address, Mr Crnadak has kindly agreed to take questions from the floor. I welcome you warmly to the Assembly, especially as we had the opportunity a few minutes ago to have an exchange of views on various items. We have had very good relations during your chairmanship on the political and institutional level but also personally, and I thank you for that. You have the floor.
Mr CRNADAK (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers) – Dear Madam President, Secretary General, ladies and gentlemen, parliamentarians, as you already know, this is my last report to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. I would like use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Assembly for its generous support and co-operation with the Chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with our work in the Committee of Ministers.
Unfortunately, I address you here today as Europe faces another test of its character, values and institutional capacity. Refugees, mostly those escaping the civil wars at our southern borders, have swept the coasts of Europe in the hope of starting a new life here. In view of the developing situation, the Committee of Ministers acted swiftly and decided to hold a thematic debate on the issue of migrants. The debate was held on 15 September 2015. Representatives of member States took an active part in the debate, following the exchange of views with representatives of the UNHCR and the Council of Europe Development Bank. Based on the views expressed, the Committee of Ministers adopted decisions which stressed, among other things, the need to address the root causes of the refugee crisis, called on all member States to treat refugees in accordance with international law, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights, and confirmed that the refugee crisis is the responsibility of each member State. For more details, I refer you to the full text of the decisions adopted by the Committee of Ministers.
Earlier, and in line with this decision and the general policy of the Council of Europe in this regard, the Secretary General sent a circular letter to the heads of government of the Council of Europe member States, in which he stated that each person arriving in Europe enjoys the same rights which are guaranteed to every European by the European Convention on Human Rights. Therefore, the fair and respectful treatment of refugees is not only a moral, but a legal obligation of member States as well. It is very important that the Council of Europe is and continues to be involved in the solution to the refugee crisis, since it is the highest European authority on the issues of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We need to be more vocal in words and efficient in action given the seriousness of the crisis. It is and will be a real test of character for the Council of Europe.
I am very sad and worried about how the current refugee crisis has affected the relations between some of our member States in south-eastern Europe. I use this opportunity to make a solemn appeal to all the governments in the region to work on easing the tensions and to find a solution in the best interests of the region and of the refugees. In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe I am ready to host an urgent meeting with the representatives of the countries involved in order to find the most acceptable solutions based on the values and principles of the Council of Europe.
Four days ago, I visited “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, one of the European countries most affected by the refugee crisis. I met with its president, prime minister, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and we had lengthy discussions on the current refugee crisis. My hosts presented detailed information on the current problems facing their country and their action plan for the future. As is the case with the other countries in the region of western Balkans, the solution to the refugee crisis can be found only as part of a European overall plan, and not by countries individually. We had lengthy discussions on the current refugee crisis, where my hosts presented detailed information on the current problems facing their country and the action plan for the future. As is the case with the other countries in the region of Western Balkans, the solution to the refugee crisis can be found only as part of a European overall plan, and not by countries individually.
I visited Tunisia on 21 September. It was an important visit, taken in line with the main priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe. I had the pleasure of meeting the President of the Republic of Tunisia, the President of its Parliament and its Minister of Foreign Affairs. During our fruitful discussions, my hosts expressed their country’s desire further to strengthen its co-operation with the Council of Europe, with Tunisia possibly having institutional status within the Organisation. I hope that that example of Tunisia’s commitment to the values of the Council of Europe will have a positive impact on other countries in our neighbourhood and will set an example for them to follow. In light of recent events, the need for further intensification of our neighbourhood policy has never been more obvious.
On the activity of the Committee of Ministers on the rule of law, I am pleased to announce that the Bosnia and Herzegovina chairmanship has successfully finished the consultations with member States on setting a date for the opening for signature of the additional protocol to the Council of Europe convention on the prevention of terrorism. Following our proposal, the Committee of Ministers has reached consensus on holding that event in Riga on 22 October 2015 following the invitation of the Latvian authorities. As you already know, this important protocol addresses the problem of foreign fighters. I invite all member States of the Council of Europe to sign this invaluable document.
Terrorism knows no boundaries in the modern world, so the Bosnia and Herzegovina chairmanship has decided to invite to Riga the representatives of three neighbourhood countries that have a partnership agreement with the Council of Europe: Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan. Although technical matters prevent those countries from signing the protocol, their participation in the event will send an important message about the need for joint efforts in tackling this important issue. In my capacity as chair of the Committee of Ministers, and as the representative of our Organisation, I took part in the special meeting organised by the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in Madrid on 28 July. The subject of our discussion was stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters.
In July, the Deputies held an exchange of views with Mr John Murray, chair of the Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for Election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights. The Deputies also held two exchanges of views with the Commissioner for Human Rights—the first in July, following his last visit to Ukraine, and the second in September following the Commissioner’s presentation of his second quarterly activity report for 2015. In July, the Deputies also held an exchange of views with Mr Christian Ǻhlund, chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Last week, the Deputies held their 1 236th meeting in their capacity of supervising the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, and they adopted a number of decisions. For details, I refer you to the relevant documents of the Committee of Ministers.
Following the execution in Japan on 25 June, the Deputies adopted a decision condemning the act and, in line with the Council of Europe’s policy, called on the Japanese authorities to introduce a moratorium on the use of capital punishment as a first step towards its total abolition and to foster an open and democratic debate on this important issue.
At the beginning of July, the Ministers’ deputies’ rapporteur group on democracy held an exchange of views with the director of the department of European co-operation within Belarus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That exchange provided an opportunity to discuss the state of co-operation between Belarus and the Council of Europe and the progress expected of Belarus in aligning itself with the values of the Council of Europe, particularly the abolition of the death penalty. Belarus will hold a presidential election on 11 October, and I express our hope that the election will be free and democratic, bringing Belarus closer to the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers will closely follow the conclusions of the Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Europe observers.
On social cohesion, the Deputies agreed in principle to the establishment of a European Roma institute for arts and culture—that is still a working title. The Secretariat will pursue the preparatory work with a view to submitting the draft statute and draft memorandum of understanding between the centre and the Council of Europe in the near future.
An important event in the framework of the chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina will happen on 20 October, when there will be a high-level conference in Sarajevo on implementing the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The purpose of the conference is to exchange views on best practice for monitoring the implementation of the convention. We will try to use our momentum to encourage member States that have not done so to accede to the convention. I welcome the first meeting of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which took place in Strasbourg on 21 September.
One of the priorities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina chairmanship is to organise the 2015 Council of Europe exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, which will happen on 2 and 3 November in Sarajevo. The exchange will focus on the role of religious and non-religious beliefs in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism under the theme “building inclusive societies together.” The debate will revolve around two sub-themes: the role and place of religion in public space; and teaching about religious and non-religious beliefs in schools. We are pleased with the high level of participants who have already accepted our invitation.
Another high-level conference, “Women in today’s film industry: gender issues. Can we do better?” was held in Sarajevo on 14 August under the framework of the Bosnia and Herzegovina chairmanship. A declaration was adopted at the conference calling for policies to counter the gender imbalance in the European audio-visual industry.
On 31 August 2015 the Secretary General presented the draft programme and budget for 2016-17, based on the Deputies’ decision of 12 May on the priorities for the next biennium. The plan is to adopt the programme and budget for 2016-17 by the end of November 2015.
At the beginning of July, the Deputies appointed Mr Rainer Hofmann as the new independent board member of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency for a term ending on 1 July 2020. The co-ordination group between the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will meet in Vienna on 23 October to take stock of co-operation between the two organisations on action against terrorism and trafficking in human beings.
Finally, I congratulate Ms Brasseur on her wonderful work during her presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly. I wish her the very best for the future. I also thank the Secretariat and the Secretary General for their excellent co-operation and the great support that we received during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s chairmanship and during my chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
I thank you all for your attention. I will now answer your questions and hear your suggestions.
THE PRESIDENT – Thank you very much, Mr Crnadak, for your speech and for underlining the big challenges you addressed during your presidency. The priorities you set yourself are also our priorities. A number of speakers want to ask questions.
First, I call Mr Omtzigt on behalf of the EPP.
Mr OMTZIGT (Netherlands) – I would like to ask a question on the case of Ms Savchenko. I have tabled several questions to the Committee of Ministers and, every time, the answer comes back that there is no answer due to a lack of unanimity. Last week, I received an answer to the single question that I had asked: “What action has the Committee of Ministers taken in the last four months on the case of Ms Savchenko, and in particular vis-à-vis the Russian authorities, in order to ensure her release?” The Committee said that there was no unanimity in answering, so you do not get an answer. After thinking for nine months, and after this Assembly asked in January for her release within 24 hours, are you able and willing to write us a letter on what you have done in the case of Ms Savchenko and what the Committee of Ministers thinks of it?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. This case has been raised on a number of occasions with the Committee of Ministers and we have looked at it many times. In March, the Committee expressed its concern about the state of Ms Savchenko’s health and called on the Russian authorities to release her without delay on humanitarian grounds. In the meantime, the trial has got under way and we are following it. I must explain one thing that you have noted. There must be consensus in the Committee of Ministers on any answer, so it is impossible to give complete answers to questions when there is no consensus. We will continue to follow the case and to insist on the standpoints that have been taken by the Committee of Ministers and the other bodies of the Organisation.
The PRESIDENT – Thank you. The next speaker is Ms Vučković on behalf of the Socialist Group.
Ms VUČKOVIĆ (Serbia) – In recent weeks, many member States of the Council of Europe seem to have forgotten that every person who enters the territory of a member State should be treated in a dignified way. We have witnessed alarming trends in the violation of the human rights of such people. Many of them face inhuman and degrading treatment. Will you condemn that? Why is it happening? What is the answer of the Committee of Ministers; how has it addressed this issue? What plan does the Council of Europe have to take action to counter this treatment?
Mr CRNADAK – That is one of the key issues of the past few weeks and months. The Committee of Ministers is highly concerned by the gravity of the refugee crisis and the many human tragedies that have resulted. In my speech, I explained part of our response. For us, it is a key issue. I repeat that the same approach must be taken to any individual, especially one who comes to Europe in such circumstances. Every rule and convention must apply to them, just as it does to any of us who are already here in Europe. That is our position and we will follow the situation to ensure that that is what happens in practice.
I remind members that we acted very quickly on this issue. The Committee of Ministers made a decision on the refugee crisis unanimously. I reiterate the importance of the letter that the Secretary General sent to the governments of all member States, which underlined the positions that we are talking about. Not only the Council of Europe, but Europe in its widest sense, must react in the right way to this situation. All the tensions that have appeared between States that are dealing with the crisis must decrease. We need to have the best possible communication: there must be more meetings, more contacts and more common working to deal with this crisis.
Although this is not especially the position of the Committee of Ministers, I want to use this opportunity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of a neighbouring country, to praise how your government and country have treated this crisis, Ms Vučković. They have reacted in an appropriate way.
The PRESIDENT – Thank you. I call Ms Zelienková to speak on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Ms ZELIENKOVÁ (Czech Republic) – I would like to ask a question about Ukraine. As you all know, Ukraine is in a very difficult situation, as it faces a war. Political stability is very important at this moment and there are local elections coming up. What steps will the Committee of Minister take to support that country?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. That matter has the permanent attention of the Committee of Ministers and is often at the heart of the discussions at our ministerial sessions. Two things must be underlined: there must be firmness on the principles and there must be the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Minsk agreements must be implemented fully and swiftly. That is the position of the Organisation and the Committee of Ministers, and we will continue to follow that.
In respect of our approach to the Ukraine conflict, it is important to underline the importance of respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The protection of human rights is one of the key issues for us. In answering the question, it is important to say that the Committee of Ministers remains focused on this issue.
When it comes to assisting the Ukrainian authorities, it is important that our contribution is respected, including our support for the elections, the constitutional reforms and the reform of the judiciary, as well as our legal work on decentralisation, the protection of national minorities and other matters.
The PRESIDENT – Thank you. I call Sir Roger Gale on behalf of the European Conservatives Group.
Sir Roger GALE (United Kingdom) – In congratulating Bosnia and Herzegovina on the successful completion of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers, may I follow on from the previous question and ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs what steps the Committee of Ministers has taken to seek the enforcement and implementation of the resolutions that have been carried by the Council of Europe in respect of the Russian occupation of Crimea and the armed conflict in the east of Ukraine?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. It is important to underline what are the legal possibilities within the competences of the Council of Europe and to remind you of what has been done so far. The Committee of Ministers has called on several occasions for full respect of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. We have urged the Russian Federation to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine. We have condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and called several times for the respect of human rights in the region. The Committee of Ministers has also invited the Secretary General to hold political consultations with the Russian Federation and Ukraine in order that we can carry out our human rights activities on the ground. Those are just a few things that I must mention. They show that this is an important issue to us and that it is on the radar. However, the restrictions that the competences place on the Organisation in this matter must be understood.
The PRESIDENT – Thank you. The last speaker for the political groups is Tiny Kox on behalf of the Group of the European Unified Left.
Mr KOX (Netherlands) – We heard the President voicing her deep concern about the deterioration in human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Azerbaijan. Secretary General Jagland also voiced deep worries about the fact that the country is on the wrong track with regard to the core values of the Council of Europe. Many people have been placed under arrest in Azerbaijan and the country does not apply the verdicts of the Court of Human Rights. What has the Committee of Ministers done to make it clear to the authorities in Baku that the country is on the wrong track and should change policy in order to remain a serious member of this Organisation?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. Another issue, as you say, is Azerbaijan and its commitments. The arrest of journalists and defenders of human rights has been raised repeatedly in the Committee of Ministers, including after the recent sentencing of Mr and Mrs Yunus and Ms Ismayilova. Journalists and representatives of civil society must be able to do their job freely. That is the position of the Committee of Ministers. It is important for the authorities in Azerbaijan to solve rapidly and definitively the issue of allegedly political prisoners. That again is our clear message. Furthermore, the honouring by Azerbaijan of its commitments is under review in the Committee of Ministers and, in future, we will have the new position.
The PRESIDENT – Thank you. That concludes the list of speakers on behalf of the groups. Before we start on the next list of speakers, I remind you that we must finish the questions at 12.40, when we will start on the prize-giving ceremony for the Václav Havel prize. I first call Ms Christoffersen.
Ms CHRISTOFFERSEN (Norway) – As you mentioned in your answer to Ms Vučković, Mr Crnadak, a few days ago the Committee of Ministers adopted a series of decisions concerning the mass arrival of refugees in Europe. How does the Committee intend to secure the implementation of those decisions in each of our 47 member States, especially when it comes to relieving those States facing the refugees on the front line?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. As I said, this is probably the most important issue today. Of course it is implementation that counts, and we have discussed that in the Committee of Ministers. We intend to use all possible mechanisms, but our most important focus will be on regular monitoring of implementation, especially in the countries with direct contact. We will be watching the overall development of the situation. Implementation should go well, especially because the discussions went well, without any conflict. More or less, views of the issue and the need to react are held in common, as reflected in the decisions. We also expect implementation to go well.
Mr FOURNIER (France)* – Will you tell us where the process that seeks to revise the Ukrainian constitution stands, in particular in respect of decentralisation, which is a precondition of the successful implementation of the Minsk II agreement?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. As I have mentioned, we are very much working on the Ukraine conflict and everything to do with the issue. In January 2015 we had the 2015-17 action plan to support reform in the field of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Ukraine. The Council of Europe has also participated in the work of the constitutional reform commission established by President Poroshenko. Representatives of the Venice Commission and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and the special adviser to the Secretary General on Ukraine sit on the commission. For our part, we have a strong wish to continue this work, and I am sure we will do so, especially with regard to the decentralisation of Ukraine, on which this Organisation has given expert and legal assistance.
Mr HUSEYNOV (Azerbaijan) – The Azykh cave is one of the earliest human settlements in Europe, dating back more than 7,000 years, and is located near the occupied town of Fizuli. It is a rare example in world culture, but the Armenian occupiers turned it into an ammunition store, using the area for military target practice. With the involvement of foreign scholars, the Armenians are now conducting unlawful archaeological excavations, diversifying their activities into the preparation not only of the occupied territories, but of history. What steps within the competence of the Committee of Ministers can be taken towards securing the cessation of unlawful Armenian archaeological excavations at the cave of Azykh in occupied Azerbaijani territory?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. The issue has not been discussed at the Committee of Ministers, but it is an important one. I can draw on my own background and examples from my country. Things such as this attract a lot of attention back home, so we understand. What the Committee of Ministers and the Organisation will continue to insist on is respect for all laws and international conventions. We will continue to support and give extra boosts to more discussions, dialogue and compromise. I also wish for a fruitful outcome of the recently announced meeting of the two ministers from Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York, due in the coming days. I hope that it will lead to a better situation in general and deal with the particular issue that you brought up today.
Mr BENEYTO (Spain) – I congratulate Madam President on her successful chairmanship.
May I ask exactly what work and initiatives there are from the Council of Europe Development Bank to help with the refugee crisis? I remind all bodies and organs of the Council of Europe that they have to be accountable to the Parliamentary Assembly.
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, I do not have the exact figures today, but I am sure that I will have them soon. The reaction of the bank was swift. At first it was more than anything a symbolic gesture; it will not remain symbolic, but will be substantial. Some funds were available from the start. The figures will be available soon. It is important to say that they will consist of two parts: grants, and loans with favourable conditions. Unfortunately, I do not have the figures now, but they will be provided soon.
THE PRESIDENT – Ms Csöbör is absent, so I call Mr Díaz Tejera to ask a question.
Mr DÍAZ TEJERA (Spain)* – Thank you, Madame President, and thank you, Minister, for your work. My question cannot be about anything other than the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding before us that we are talking about week after week. It has gone beyond any political and legal categorisation. No government has actually risen to the challenge; it is the peoples who have acted. Things have to change. What changes have to be brought in so that if we see a tragedy like this again our response will be up to the required standard?
Mr CRNADAK – Thank you. That was a general question about how the Organisation is tackling this issue and what we can do to prevent anything like it in future, rather than a particular question about the work of the Committee of Ministers. Still, you have raised an important issue. We see working more closely with neighbouring regions as a priority, and the current situation has confirmed that that is certainly one of the things that we need to do. First, we need more co-operation with neighbouring regions and countries, and with those countries that are affected by the conflict. Secondly, we need solidarity. We have to be able to work through this crisis, help each other through it and avoid any conflicts. Above all, we need to react.
I think that most of you will agree with me that Europe still has not provided completely the right solution. For any potential future similar crisis, the most important thing will be that Europe provides the right solution. I have one more sentence on this topic regarding our chairmanship: we appeal again to all the affected countries to work more closely together rather than falling into sudden strong conflicts that are used mostly for domestic political purposes. In general, we as an Organisation reacted as strongly as we could in the ways that we could, but the final answer on how the crisis will be handled and with what kind of solution will have to be found in the upcoming weeks and months by Europe.
THE PRESIDENT – Thank you very much, Minister. We must now conclude the questions to Mr Crnadak. If they wish, those who were not able to put their questions can put them in written form so that the Committee of Ministers can answer them. I regret that we have to conclude now, but I thank you once more, Minister, for your communication. The challenges that you have to face are huge, and we can face them and find solutions only if we work together. I look forward to participating in one of the events – namely, the exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue that you are organising at the beginning of November.
11. Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize
The PRESIDENT – The next item on the agenda is a very solemn moment: the Václav Havel human rights prize award ceremony. I ask for the prize to be set up in front of the rostrum. A short film will now be shown.
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.’Fo
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 the banning of his plays. 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, as 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. The first ever Václav Havel human rights prize was awarded in 2013 to Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, but the laureate – imprisoned since 2011 – was unable to attend the ceremony. Last year, Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli was awarded the second Václav Havel human rights prize.
The three candidates shortlisted for the third edition of the prize are the veteran Russian human rights defender Ludmilla Alexeeva; the grass-roots NGO, Women for Afghan Women; and the Balkan NGO, Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
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 – Dear nominees, dear members of the selection panel, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen – today we have the honour, pleasure and privilege of awarding the Václav Havel human rights prize of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This is the third time the Assembly is giving this prize. Let me thank our partners – the Government of the Czech Republic, the Václav Havel Library, and the Charter 77 Foundation. Their commitment to the legacy of Mr Havel gives this prize a particular significance.
This year the jury again had to face an extremely difficult task – how to select only one laureate from dozens of worthy, admirable human rights defenders and organisations to whom we owe our respect, our support and our thanks. Let me, on behalf of the Assembly, congratulate and thank all the candidates, and the persons who put them forward, for their work, their dignity and their dedication. Allow me as well to express our gratitude to the members of the selection panel, who throughout this month have been attentive to and aware of the responsibility that their duty implies.
Without further delay, let me introduce our distinguished nominees. Mrs Ludmilla Alexeeva is a Soviet dissident and Russian human rights defender who inspired many generations of activists in Russia. But not only in Russia – you are known also abroad, as you can see from the spontaneous applause. You committed yourself to struggle for justice. During the decades of this work, Mrs Alexeeva was persecuted and threatened. She lost her employment and had to leave her country in order to continue to speak out about human rights violations in the Soviet Union. Today she chairs the Moscow Helsinki Group, an organisation that often faces a hostile environment as a free-thinking NGO but none the less continues to denounce human rights violations and offer help to the victims. I am honoured to see Mrs Alexeeva in this Chamber today, and I applaud again her lifelong commitment.
Women For Afghan Women, an NGO from Afghanistan, is another shortlisted nominee. This organisation does remarkable work to protect women and girls from abuse in a country where the rights of women are all too often violated and even despised. The organisation provides shelter to girls and women who are victims of hideous violence, mutilation, murder attempts, rape and torture. This is truly an organisation that protects human dignity and saves human life – and it does so under very difficult conditions. The organisation is represented here by Mrs Manizha Naderi, its executive director. Her presence in the Chamber demonstrates that the Václav Havel human rights prize has a strong global dimension. Nominations, and the prize itself, are not restricted to European individuals or organisations. On behalf of the Assembly I would like to pay tribute to human rights activists beyond our continent – you are most welcome.
The third shortlisted nominee is the Youth Initiative for Human Rights – an organisation that promotes establishing and re-establishing contacts and bonds between the youth of the region of the Balkans, creating a new fabric of solidarity in the region. This organisation promotes reconciliation and mutual understanding through a common commitment to human rights and the rule of law, and through common reflection on the past, confronting memories often marked by violence and injustice. Sometimes Europe is called the “old continent”, but initiatives like the one we are glad to welcome here today remind us that Europe is also a young continent where youth is capable of overcoming yesterday’s animosity – capable of thinking about the future and not being imprisoned by the dark ghosts of the past. We are glad to welcome here today Mrs Alma Mašić, director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights. Welcome to you.
Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, the three shortlisted candidates for this year’s prize may appear very different, but they have two things in common. First, all of them conduct their activities in difficult conditions, facing pressure, mistrust or misunderstanding. Secondly, their human rights work can be seen as a strong commitment in favour of solidarity. Solidarity is a safeguard against dictatorship, a protection from violence, and an antidote to hatred and intolerance. Solidarity is the essence of the human rights commitment. Solidarity makes democratic societies work. I think we should remember this in the present context, when there is an important risk of many countries falling back into populism and hatred. Especially today, let us remember the words that Václav Havel pronounced 18 years ago in this very building: “We must not pass on to the future generations an egoistic Europe, deaf and blind to the needs of others; a Europe entrenched in a fortress mentality”.
Now, congratulating once again the three nominees, who all merit the highest recognition, I ask the panel members to join me before I declare the laureate. I would also like to ask the Secretary General of the Assembly to join me – and Minister, please join us as well. I now have the great honour to announce the laureate of the 2015 Václav Havel human rights prize – it is Mrs Ludmilla Alexeeva. [Applause.]
May I now ask the Laureate to give us some words of encouragement? She is a fantastic example to all of us.
Ms Ludmilla ALEXEEVA – I am proud and happy to receive this award, which carries the wonderful name of Václav Havel. With all my heart, I am grateful to the Parliament for their choice, because I understand that it is not recognition of me personally but of all Russian human rights defenders, who work in very difficult circumstances. I thank you again with all my heart.
Excuse me, but let me continue to speak in Russian about the human rights situation in Russia, because my English, I understand, is terrible.
(The speaker continued in Russian.)
In my country, the human rights defence movement was born half a century ago, and I am happy and proud that I was there from the very outset. At the time that the movement was born, I participated in it actively, and the history of the human rights movement in my country is really the story of my life over the last half century.
Chronologically, the human rights movement in our country divides into two equal parts: the 25 years during the Soviet Union and the 25 years after the Soviet Union fell apart, in the new country called the Russian Federation. During the Soviet period, we did not really manage to achieve any improvement whatever in respect of human rights. In the Soviet Union, human rights defenders were sent to gulags or prison for long periods, or for many years to maximum security psychiatric facilities, only because they insisted on declaring that people have rights from birth and that the State is obligated to guarantee and respect those rights, and to respect the dignity of every citizen.
In society, our human rights ideology was nevertheless gradually starting to have some influence and starting to be heard. Our ideology could be summarised by the following statement: the State exists for people and not people for the State. The official Soviet ideology was based on the latter. How did we spread our ideology? There were no computers. We used typewriters to publish our own declarations, and that could result in a long term in a psychiatric facility. When the Soviet Union disintegrated, the new constitution of our new State, the Russian Federation, was based on our ideology that the State exists for people and not people for the State.
Over the last 10 years or so, however, our authorities are unfortunately starting to move away from the human rights guarantees enshrined our constitution. There is increasingly a return to the former Soviet practice of not respecting the constitution or international agreements, and yet, because of that initial period, we have much more of a human rights movement in the Russian Federation than we did in the Soviet Union. At that time, there was just a handful of human rights defenders, and most of us were in Moscow. It would be difficult today to count the number of human rights defenders, but it is certainly the case that we have a presence right across our enormous country.
In the 1990s, when we started to be able to work more openly in the Russian Federation, the first form of our work was legal counsel offered free of charge, because our citizens had been granted—at least on paper—many new rights, but people did not know about them or how to defend them. Now we have various forms of awareness-raising, such as different levels of human rights education, and some specialised organisations – for the defence of the human rights of soldiers, of migrants, of women and of children, and those engaged in human rights monitoring – have appeared on the horizon.
At the beginning of the 1990s, a human rights commission reporting to the President of the Russian Federation was constituted. It is now called the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. The council has prestige and authority in society and among the various bodies of State. Similar councils or commissions exist in many regions and report to the governors. In a number of regions, civil society organisations have come together to create so-called civil chambers, which play a significant role in the life of our society. We also have a human rights ombudsman at the federal level and corresponding ombudsmen in the regions. There are also ombudsmen on the rights of the child at the federal level and in some regions.
While in the 1990s and at the beginning of this century the authorities co-operated with human rights defenders, at least to some extent, over the last 10 years we have seen an obvious attempt by the authorities to close down human rights defence organisations. In 2006, a law was enacted which forced all non-commercial organisations to be answerable to, and controlled by, the Ministry of Justice. We have to write reports about our work, which wastes a lot of time; there are thousands of them and nobody reads them, of course. We are audited and verified by all sorts of organisations, not only the Ministry of Justice. That makes it difficult for human rights organisations to concentrate on their main work.
Yet another law was enacted in 2012, in accordance with which civil society and non-commercial organisations are labelled agents of foreign States if they receive even a tiny sum of money from abroad. According to that law, the organisations themselves and their directors can be subject to enormous fines. It is impossible to pay such deliberately unaffordable sums, resulting in the organisations being closed down. This form of repression has resulted in the closure of the most active and effective civil society organisations. A total of 83 human rights and environmental organisations have been labelled as agents of foreign States, which in the Russian language essentially means “spy” or “traitor”. Other forms of control are used by the State because it owns virtually all the media and spreads misinformation and propaganda that we adhere to western values that are contrary to traditional Russian values. Despite all that, it is still much easier for us to do our work than it was in the Soviet Union. Those of us who were around during that time are used to such difficulties and we continue to do whatever we can.
In closing, I would just like to say that I do not believe that there will be a rapid improvement in the climate of civil society in my country, but when it comes to the longer term I am optimistic. Russia is a European country, in geography, in culture, in religion and in its history, and therefore we will necessarily become a democratic State with the rule of law at some point. We will join the family of European nations and uphold their values, because we are a European State. I believe that with all my heart. I am firmly convinced of it. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT – That was really remarkable. I thank you once more on behalf of us all for all that you have done for human rights not only in your country but for other countries. I thank you for your marvellous speech. Most of us have been members here for a long time, and very rarely have I attended an Assembly where everyone was listening so intently to the speaker. You are a great person and we are honoured and pleased to have you here. You are the right choice to take over the legacy of Václav Havel. Wherever we are, we cannot take human rights for granted; we have to fight, and you are an example to us all. Once more, thank you and congratulations from my heart.
Ms ALEXEEVA* – Thank you. I am very grateful. I think that my colleagues from Afghanistan and from Bosnia and Herzegovina were equally worthy of this prize. I am very pleased that I got it, but I shed tears that they did not.
12. Next public business
THE PRESIDENT – The Assembly will hold its next public sitting this afternoon at 3 p.m. with the agenda which was approved this morning.
The sitting is closed.
(The sitting was closed at 1.20 p.m.)
CONTENTS
1. Opening of the fourth part of the 2015 ordinary session
2. Death of a member
3. Opening statement of the President
4. Examination of credentials
5. Election of a vice-president
6. Changes in the membership of committees
7. Proposal for a current affairs debate
8. Adoption of the agenda
9. Time limits on speeches
10. Communication from the Committee of Ministers
Statement by Mr Igor Crnadak, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers
Questions: Mr Omtzigt, Ms Vučković, Ms Zelienková, Sir Roger Gale, Mr Kox, Ms Christoffersen, Mr Fournier, Mr Huseynov, Mr Beneyto, Mr Díaz Tejera
11. Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
12. Next public business
Appendix I
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
Alexey Ivanovich ALEKSANDROV*
Brigitte ALLAIN/Geneviève Gosselin-Fleury
Jean-Charles ALLAVENA
Werner AMON/Bernhard Ebner
Luise AMTSBERG/Frithjof Schmidt
Athanasia ANAGNOSTOPOULOU*
Lord Donald ANDERSON
Paride ANDREOLI
Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA/Petri Honkonen
Ben-Oni ARDELEAN
Khadija ARIB/Pieter Omtzigt
Volodymyr ARIEV
Anna ASCANI*
Egemen BAĞIŞ/Ahmet Berat Çonkar
Theodora BAKOYANNIS
David BAKRADZE
Gérard BAPT*
Doris BARNETT*
José Manuel BARREIRO*
Deniz BAYKAL
Marieluise BECK*
Ondřej BENEŠIK
José María BENEYTO
Levan BERDZENISHVILI
Deborah BERGAMINI*
Sali BERISHA
Anna Maria BERNINI/Claudio Fazzone
Maria Teresa BERTUZZI*
Andris BĒRZINŠ*
Gülsün BİLGEHAN
Brian BINLEY*
Ľuboš BLAHA/Darina Gabániová
Philippe BLANCHART*
Maryvonne BLONDIN
Tilde BORK*
Olga BORZOVA*
Mladen BOSIĆ
António BRAGA*
Anne BRASSEUR/Marc Spautz
Piet De BRUYN/Dirk Van Der Maelen
Beata BUBLEWICZ/Iwona Guzowska
Gerold BÜCHEL*
André BUGNON
Natalia BURYKINA*
Nunzia CATALFO*
Elena CENTEMERO
Irakli CHIKOVANI
Vannino CHITI/Francesco Verducci
Christopher CHOPE
Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN
Henryk CIOCH*
James CLAPPISON*
Igor CORMAN
Telmo CORREIA*
Paolo CORSINI
Carlos COSTA NEVES*
Celeste COSTANTINO/Ferdinando Aiello
Yves CRUCHTEN
Zsolt CSENGER-ZALÁN
Katalin CSÖBÖR
Joseph DEBONO GRECH
Reha DENEMEÇ
Renata DESKOSKA*
Alain DESTEXHE
Manlio DI STEFANO*
Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA
Peter van DIJK
Şaban DİŞLİ
Sergio DIVINA*
Aleksandra DJUROVIĆ*
Namik DOKLE
Elvira DROBINSKI-WEIß/Gabriela Heinrich
Daphné DUMERY
- Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE*
Nicole DURANTON*
Josette DURRIEU
Mustafa DZHEMILIEV*
Mikuláš DZURINDA/Helena Mezenská
Lady Diana ECCLES*
Tülin ERKAL KARA
Franz Leonhard EßL
Samvel FARMANYAN
Joseph FENECH ADAMI
Cătălin Daniel FENECHIU
Vyacheslav FETISOV*
Doris FIALA
Daniela FILIPIOVÁ*
Ute FINCKH-KRÄMER
Axel E. FISCHER
Gvozden Srećko FLEGO
Bernard FOURNIER
Hans FRANKEN
Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO
Martin FRONC
Sir Roger GALE
Adele GAMBARO
Karl GARÐARSSON
Iryna GERASHCHENKO*
Tina GHASEMI
Valeriu GHILETCHI
Francesco Maria GIRO
Pavol GOGA*
Carlos Alberto GONÇALVES
Mustafa Sait GÖNEN
Alina Ștefania GORGHIU/Corneliu Mugurel Cozmanciuc
Svetlana GORYACHEVA*
Sylvie GOY-CHAVENT
Fred de GRAAF*
François GROSDIDIER
Andreas GROSS
Dzhema GROZDANOVA*
Mehmet Kasim GÜLPINAR*
Gergely GULYÁS/Attila Tilki
Jonas GUNNARSSON
Nazmi GÜR*
Antonio GUTIÉRREZ/Jordi Xuclà
Maria GUZENINA
Márton GYÖNGYÖSI*
Sabir HAJIYEV
Alfred HEER
Michael HENNRICH
Martin HENRIKSEN
Françoise HETTO-GAASCH
Oleksii HONCHARENKO
Jim HOOD*
Anette HÜBINGER
Johannes HÜBNER
Andrej HUNKO
Ali HUSEYNLI/Sahiba Gafarova
Rafael HUSEYNOV
Vitaly IGNATENKO*
Ekmeleddin Mehmet İHSANOĞLU
Florin IORDACHE/Daniel Florea
Tadeusz IWIŃSKI
Denis JACQUAT/Jacques Legendre
Gedimnas JAKAVONIS
Gordan JANDROKOVIĆ*
Tedo JAPARIDZE
Michael Aastrup JENSEN
Mogens JENSEN
Frank J. JENSSEN
Florina-Ruxandra JIPA
Ögmundur JÓNASSON
Aleksandar JOVIČIĆ
Josip JURATOVIC*
Anne KALMARI
Mustafa KARADAYI/Hamid Hamid
Marietta KARAMANLI*
Niklas KARLSSON/Eva-Lena Jansson
Vasiliki KATRIVANOU*
Ioanneta KAVVADIA*
Danail KIRILOV*
Bogdan KLICH/Helena Hatka
Manana KOBAKHIDZE*
Haluk KOÇ/Metin Lütfü Baydar
Igor KOLMAN*
Željko KOMŠIĆ
Unnur Brá KONRÁÐSDÓTTIR/Brynjar Níelsson
Ksenija KORENJAK KRAMAR
Attila KORODI
Alev KORUN/Andreas Schieder
Rom KOSTŘICA/Gabriela Pecková
Elvira KOVÁCS
Tiny KOX
Borjana KRIŠTO
Julia KRONLID/Johan Nissinen
Eerik-Niiles KROSS*
Marek KRZĄKAŁA/Killion Munyama
Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ
Athina KYRIAKIDOU
Serhiy LABAZIUK
Inese LAIZĀNE
Olof LAVESSON
Pierre-Yves LE BORGN'
Jean-Yves LE DÉAUT
Igor LEBEDEV*
Valentina LESKAJ
Terry LEYDEN
Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE
Georgii LOGVYNSKYI
François LONCLE*
George LOUKAIDES
Yuliya L'OVOCHKINA
Philippe MAHOUX
Thierry MARIANI
Soňa MARKOVÁ/Pavel Holík
Milica MARKOVIĆ*
Meritxell MATEU PI
Ana MATO*
Frano MATUŠIĆ
Liliane MAURY PASQUIER
Michael McNAMARA*
Sir Alan MEALE
Ermira MEHMETI DEVAJA*
Evangelos MEIMARAKIS/Liana Kanelli
Ivan MELNIKOV*
Ana Catarina MENDES*
Attila MESTERHÁZY
Jean-Claude MIGNON
Olivia MITCHELL
Igor MOROZOV*
João Bosco MOTA AMARAL
Arkadiusz MULARCZYK*
Melita MULIĆ*
Oľga NACHTMANNOVÁ
Hermine NAGHDALYAN
Piotr NAIMSKI*
Sergey NARYSHKIN*
Marian NEACȘU/ Titus Corlăţean
Andrei NEGUTA
Zsolt NÉMETH*
Miroslav NENUTIL
Baroness Emma NICHOLSON*
Michele NICOLETTI
Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI
Julia OBERMEIER*
Marija OBRADOVIĆ
Žarko OBRADOVIĆ
Judith OEHRI
Carina OHLSSON/Lotta Johnsson Fornarve
Joseph O'REILLY
Maciej ORZECHOWSKI/Michal Stuligrosz
Sandra OSBORNE*
Tom PACKALÉN
José Ignacio PALACIOS
Liliana PALIHOVICI
Judith PALLARÉS CORTÉS
Ganira PASHAYEVA/Sevinj Fataliyeva
Florin Costin PÂSLARU
Waldemar PAWLAK/Jan Rzymełka
Jaana PELKONEN/Anne Louhelainen
Vladimir PLIGIN*
Cezar Florin PREDA
John PRESCOTT*
Gabino PUCHE
Alexey PUSHKOV*
Lia QUARTAPELLE PROCOPIO
Carmen QUINTANILLA
Kerstin RADOMSKI*
Mailis REPS*
Andrea RIGONI
François ROCHEBLOINE/André Schneider
Soraya RODRÍGUEZ*
Alexander ROMANOVICH*
Maria de Belém ROSEIRA*
René ROUQUET
Rovshan RZAYEV/Fazil Mustafa
Àlex SÁEZ*
Vincenzo SANTANGELO*
Milena SANTERINI*
Nadiia SAVCHENKO/ Sergiy Vlasenko
Deborah SCHEMBRI *
Stefan SCHENNACH
Ingjerd SCHOU
Frank SCHWABE
Urs SCHWALLER/Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter
Salvador SEDÓ*
Predrag SEKULIĆ
Ömer SELVİ/Suat Önal
Aleksandar SENIĆ
Senad ŠEPIĆ
Samad SEYIDOV*
Jim SHERIDAN
Bernd SIEBERT/Thomas Feist
Valeri SIMEONOV/Kancho Filipov
Andrej ŠIRCELJ
Arturas SKARDŽIUS
Jan ŠKOBERNE
Leonid SLUTSKY*
Serhiy SOBOLEV
Olena SOTNYK
Lorella STEFANELLI
Yanaki STOILOV/Valeri Jablianov
Karin STRENZ
Ionuț-Marian STROE
Valeriy SUDARENKOV*
Krzysztof SZCZERSKI*
Damien THIÉRY*
Lord John E. TOMLINSON
Antoni TRENCHEV*
Goran TUPONJA
Ahmet Kutalmiş TÜRKEŞ
Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ*
Theodora TZAKRI*
Ilyas UMAKHANOV*
Dana VÁHALOVÁ
Snorre Serigstad VALEN
Petrit VASILI
Imre VEJKEY/Rózsa Hoffmann
Stefaan VERCAMER
Birutė VĖSAITĖ
Nikolaj VILLUMSEN
Dimitris VITSAS*
Vladimir VORONIN
Viktor VOVK
Klaas de VRIES
Nataša VUČKOVIĆ
Draginja VUKSANOVIĆ*
Piotr WACH
Robert WALTER
Dame Angela WATKINSON*
Tom WATSON*
Karl-Georg WELLMANN
Katrin WERNER*
Morten WOLD
Bas van 't WOUT*
Gisela WURM
Maciej WYDRZYŃSKI*
Leonid YEMETS*
Tobias ZECH*
Kristýna ZELIENKOVÁ
Sergey ZHELEZNYAK*
Marie-Jo ZIMMERMANN
Emanuelis ZINGERIS
Guennady ZIUGANOV*
Naira ZOHRABYAN
Levon ZOURABIAN
Vacant Seat, Cyprus*
Vacant Seat, Estonia*
Vacant Seat, Turkey*
Vacant Seat, Turkey*
Vacant Seat, Turkey*
Vacant Seat, United Kingdom*
ALSO PRESENT
Representatives and Substitutes not authorised to vote
Boriana ÅBERG
Joe BENTON
Oerd BYLYKBASHI
Jean-Claude FRECON
Kerstin LUNDGREN
Barbara ROSENKRANZ
Ali ŞAHIN
Observers
Héctor LARIOS CÓRDOVA
Partners for democracy
Qais KHADER
Bernard SABELLA