ALL PACE MEMBERS HAVE COMMITMENTS ON PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I do not support giving independence to areas
populated by national minorities in Europe," President of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rene van der Linden stated. In
his words, a report on Lebanon, illegal migration to Europe, situation
in Kosovo will be discussed at the PACE plenary session. Russia-Georgia
problems will be discussed between the parliamentary delegations of
the two countries and PACE authorities.

"The relations between Russia and Georgia, which are both members
of the Council of Europe and as PACE members undertook commitments
on peaceful settlement of conflicts, should be solved via diplomatic
tools," he said.

The PACE President also commented on French President Jacques Chirac’s
statement in Yerevan over EU-Turkey talks. "It is not new that Jacques
Chirac has made such statements. The game has already started. You
cannot change the rules of the game while it is on.

Like other European states, France signed a document to start
discussions on Turkey’s EU membership.

Jacques Chirac has made a mere political statement. I do not think
this position is right," Mr. van der Linden said. The PACE President
also said he does not agree to Chirac’s comment on the principle of
determining the fate of national minorities and stressed that he does
not support giving independence to areas in Europe where national
minorities live, APA reports.