The Foreign Ministers of the Council of Europe made a decision on the method of lifting sanctions from the Russian Federation. In the Council of Europe also allowed Russia to participate in the elections of the new Secretary General.
More than 30 foreign ministers of the Council of Europe member states at a meeting in Helsinki made a decision that opens the way for the return of Russia to PACE on an emergency procedure. About this reports European truth with reference to the message distributed on Friday, May 17, the press service of the Council of Europe.
In particular, in their decision, the ministers stressed the need for coordinated action in order to increase the Council of Europe’s ability to respond more effectively in situations where a member state violates its statutory obligations or does not comply with Council of Europe standards, fundamental principles and values.
However, the ministers argue that it is necessary to develop a clearly defined supplementary procedure that can be initiated by the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers or the Secretary General. As reported, we are talking about a new type of sanctions procedure against violator states that is favorable for Russia.
The ministers separately stressed that all member states should have the right to participate on equal terms in the Committee of Ministers and in the Parliamentary Assembly, the two statutory bodies of the Council of Europe. They recalled that one of the main obligations of Member States is the payment of assessed contributions to the organization’s budget.
Note that the Council of Europe has allowed the Russian Federation to participate in the elections of the new Secretary General. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE) supported the position that all member states should have the right to participate in the activities of the organization’s statutory bodies, including the Parliamentary Assembly, and should also vote in the elections of the new Secretary General of the organization in June. This decision was made by the CMCE at the level of foreign ministers of member countries at its summer session on Friday in Helsinki, according to Ukrinform .
On the eve of the media reported that the Council of Europe gave the “green light” for the lifting of sanctions from the Russian Federation . The Council of Europe supported the draft decision, which opens the way for the return of Russia.
Later, Klimkin responded to Europe on the “lifting” of sanctions from the Russian Federation . The Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that Russia could be returned to PACE without fulfilling any conditions.