22.01.2010

WELCOME BY MR MEVLÜT ÇAVUŞOĞLU,
CHAIR OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,
TO MS MICHELINE CALMY-REY,
FEDERAL COUNCILLOR OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION

(Strasbourg, Monday 25 January 2010, 15 h00, Hemicycle)

I am very pleased to welcome Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Chair of the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe.

Dear Chair, first let me congratulate you on the high level of the Swiss chairmanship, which is proving to be as ambitious as it is successful.

You are not sparing your efforts when it comes to dealing with delicate issues: just a few days ago you flew to Tbilisi to obtain information about the consequences of last year’s conflict. As you know, the Parliamentary Assembly has followed closely the situation in the area and we warmly welcome your contribution to settling the conflict.

We also have great expectations from the Ministerial Conference on the future of the European Court of Human Rights. Next month in Interlaken political leaders will have a much needed opportunity to reflect on the future of the Court. This initiative of the Swiss chairmanship is timely and appropriate.

I thank you for your invitation to address this Conference, which I accept with great pleasure.

Finally, I would really like to underline the new constructive climate that the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly have established in the last months. We have been working in much closer cooperation on difficult issues and I will do my utmost to ensure that this positive attitude and mutual understanding will continue throughout my presidency of this Assembly.

Federal Councillor, Dear Chair, you have the floor