PACE WINTER SESSION OPENS IN STRASBOURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.01.2009 15:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The implementation of Resolution 1633 on the
consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, adopted in October
2008, and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict will be one
of the highlights of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), which will take place in Strasbourg
from 26 to 30 January 2009.

The parliamentarians will discuss the reports by Luc Van den Brande
(Belgium, EPP/CD) and Matyas Eorsi (Hungary, ALDE), co-rapporteurs
of the Assembly’s Monitoring Committee, and Corien W.A. Jonker
(Netherlands, EPP/CD), rapporteur of the Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Population, following their visits to these countries.

The PACE Bureau has proposed a current affairs debate on the
situation in Gaza and an urgent debate on the consequences of the
global financial crisis.

The Assembly will also discuss Armenia’s implementation of Resolutions
1609 and 1620, which PACE adopted in April 2008, and will give its
opinion on a proposal by the PACE Monitoring Committee to suspend
the Armenian delegation’s voting rights. The committee considers it
"unacceptable" that persons could be charged and deprived of their
liberty for political reasons and asks the Assembly to suspend
the delegation’s voting rights until the authorities have clearly
demonstrated their political will to resolve this issue.

The Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero [subject to
confirmation], has been invited to address the Assembly on Tuesday 27
January. In the context of the Spanish chairmanship of the Committee
of Ministers, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos will
address the parliamentarians on Wednesday 28 January. Philippe
Kirsch, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), will
make a speech on Tuesday 27 during a debate on co-operation with
the ICC. Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
will report on the state of the Organization on Monday 26 January.

The agenda also includes attitudes to memorials open to different
historical interpretations, the investigation of crimes allegedly
committed by high officials during the Kuchma rule in Ukraine,
access to rights for people with disabilities and the regulation of
audiovisual media services, PACE communication unit reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress