No to all violations

“The Council of Europe must not refrain from criticizing and condemning what it views as a violation of our principles and values”. In the introductory remarks delivered during the Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), held in Strasbourg September 29-October 3rd, President Lluis Maria de Puig, dwelt into the crisis in the Caucasus, that was twice on the agenda. “However – added de Puig – we ought to look at the future with prudence and from a political perspective. We are all conscious that the conflict between Russia and Georgia entails serious consequences for these two Countries and for the entire region”.Caucasus, an international inquiry. The content of the report drawn up by the special commission that visited Georgia and Russia, led by Luc van den Brande and by human rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, was briefed at the Palais de l’Europe, to the presence of MEPs from the 47 CoE Member States. Commissioner Hammarberg declared that “significant steps forward have been made in the respect of human rights and the conditions of refugees” in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “Such progress is the proof that humanitarian issues can be solved also in the case of complex political situations”. MEPs debated over the consequences of the conflict, valuated the situation of civil population and refugees, assessed the impact of the EU mission in the conflicting areas to verify the withdrawal of troops from Moscow, and approved a resolution reiterating “the need to undertake an independent international inquiry that will provide a clear picture of the clashes”. The basis for a debate. In the resolution, PACE declared, “Georgia and Russia both violated the principles and values of the Council of Europe, along with the commitment regarding peaceful conflict resolution.” Moscow and Tbilisi both resorted to disproportionate use of force; arms were employed also in the ‘civil areas’, which is equivalent to a war crime”. “Ethnic cleansing” was described as having been perpetrated by the Georgians throughout Ossetia villages. The Resolution, that was approved by MEPs, urges Russia “to reconsider its decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia”, and to facilitate EU and OECD Observers’ access into the two territories. These assumptions, “along with the full implementation of the cease-fire agreement concluded under the auspices of the European Union”, are “the basic conditions for constructive confrontation”. “Dialogue against extremisms”. During the five-day sitting, the Assembly of the CoE addressed a number of different issues. However, the many guests who took the floor played a primary role. “The promotion of dialogue is the only tool to fight extremism and open up to intercultural and inter-religious understanding,” declared Jorge Sampaio, High UN Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations. In acknowledging “the impossibility of identifying a quick solution to present unbalances”, Sampaio called the 47 CoE States and the entire international community “to greater cohesion aimed at making the world a better place to live in”. Sampaio and CoE Secretary General Terry Davis, signed an agreement memorandum between the Council and the Alliance defining the areas of cooperation: human rights, democracy, education, the youth, the media, migration and social cohesion. Two voices from Cyprus’ communities. PACE was then addressed by two outstanding personalities of the communities which still live “separated under the same roof”, in the island of Cyprus. The President of the Greek-Cypriot part Dimitris Christofias, affirmed: “We view Cyprus as a Country where the conflicts between the two communities can be replaced – in the context of a single economy – by fair competition and by a uniformity of interests among the different population brackets, regardless of the community that they belong to”. In Strasbourg on September 30 Christofias described the “joint perspective” shared with the other part of the population. October 1st was the turn of Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community: “PACE is the first international parliament that is opening its doors to the representatives elected by the Turkish-Cypriot population”. “Bearing in mind our assent to the referendum on the Regulatory Plan of the United Nations aimed at the resolution of Cyprus’ problem – Talat added – since 2005 you have given us the possibility of putting an end to our long political isolation. Thus thanks to PACE, Turk-Cypriot MEPs are present on the international scene”.