Your trusted source

The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) launched on April 18 in Strasburg to last until April 22. Nagorno Karabakh issue was suggested to be included in the current affairs section of the agenda.

According to Panorama.am reporter in Strasburg, three titles have been suggested for the discussion: ‘Crimes committed by Azerbaijan during the recent aggression toward Nagorno Karabakh’ suggested by the Armenian delegation, ‘The tragic escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan’ suggested by the Azerbaijani delegation and ‘The last and tragic escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’ suggested by a French parliamentarian.

It was also suggested to include a current affairs debate on “The case of the 'Panama Papers' and the concern about fiscal, social justice and public trust in our democratic system”.

During the PACE Bureau discussion prior to the session it was decided to include the issue of the ‘Panama Papers’ as a topic for current affairs debate.

The Bureau has the right for only one and final decision which needs to be approved by the members of the Assembly.

According to Head of the Armenian Delegation, Hermine Naghdalyan, the Bureau held a heated debate. Members of the Bureau noted that only 2 months ago PACE held a large-scale discussion concerning Karabakh when British parliamentarian, Robert Walter’s report was rejected, and the position of PACE members haven’t changed since.

The President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Prime Ministers of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, are among leading personalities due to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during its spring session.

As reports the PACE official website, the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe will be on the agenda, with debates on a stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the human rights of refugees and migrants in the Western Balkans and the new challenge posed by forced migration. There has also been a request for an urgent debate on “The Savchenko case”.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Daniel Mitov, will address the Assembly in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, will present his annual activity report 2015. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, will answer questions from parliamentarians.

It should be noted that for the first time in PACE history, PACE President, Pedro Agramunt refused to give a press conference prior to the session.