Alleged electoral fraud must be examined by the competent Ukrainian courts
Call on Ukrainian authorities and opposition to find a peaceful solution, PACE stands ready to assist

PACE President Peter Schieder strongly urged the Ukrainian authorities and the opposition to find a peaceful solution to the current political crisis. 'It is essential that the complaints by the opposition about cases of alleged electoral fraud be examined by the competent Ukrainian courts in a speedy and transparent manner and the decisions implemented before a new President takes office. PACE, which participated in the IEOM, stands ready to assist in any way that is deemed helpful by the parties, to ensure that the eventual outcome fully reflects the will of the Ukrainian people', he said. 

On the occasion of the Standing Committee in Warsaw, on 23 November, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the President of the Assembly and the Secretary General Terry Davis expressed their 'deep concern about the irregularities observed during the presidential elections'.  (more)


Second round failed to address irregularities, lacked transparency

The second round of the election did not meet a considerable number of OSCE commitments, Council of Europe and other European standards for democratic elections. As in the first round, state executive authorities and the Central Election Commission displayed a lack of will to conduct a genuine democratic election process, concluded the International Election Observation Mission. Some 20 PACE members observed the vote.  (more) 

Stressing the importance of the election
PACE to observe election of the President of the Palestinian Authority

PACE's Bureau, meeting in Warsaw, stressed the importance of the organisation of the elections for a successor to Yasser Arafat. It decided to send a delegation to observe the election of the President of the Palestinian Authority. PACE’s Political Affairs Committee called on the Parliament of Israel, which holds observer status with the Assembly, to facilitate the proper conduct of the forthcoming Palestinian presidential election, in particular the free movement of persons. (more)

'It is time to reconsider the Assembly’s position'
The situation in Belarus blocks the fulfillment of the very mission of the '46'

'The situation in Belarus, as we can see every day, blocks the fulfilment of the very mission of the Council of Europe which was set up in order to ensure greater unity in Europe on the basis of common values', said PACE President Peter Schieder, speaking during a debate on the situation in Belarus. (more)
 

2005: 60 years after the liberation of Auschwitz
Call for action to deal with the resurgence of acts of racism and xenophobia

PACE's President has urged his fellow-parliamentarians and European leaders to be on the alert for, and to take action against, the resurgence of racist and xenophobic acts in Europe. Debating preparations for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, to be commemorated in the Assembly Chamber on 27 January 2005. Mr Schieder expressed his regret that 60 years on it was still necessary to fight racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance. (more)

According to PACE Legal Affairs Committee
Yukos executives ‘arbitrarily singled out’ by Russian authorities

The circumstances surrounding the arrest and prosecution of leading Yukos executives strongly suggest that they were “arbitrarily singled out” by the Russian authorities, according to PACE’s Legal Affairs Committee. The state's action went beyond the mere pursuit of justice to include such elements as “to weaken an outspoken political opponent, intimidate other wealthy individuals and regain control of strategic economic assets”, said the committee, adopting a report by Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Germany, LDR). (more)
 

CALENDAR 24-26 November – Skopje, Tetovo, Struga (‘the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’) Post-monitoring dialogue Following the referendum on redrawing municipal boundaries, the Chair of PACE’s Monitoring Committee Josette Durrieu (France, SOC) meets authorities in Skopje as well as the Mayors of Tetovo and Struga. 2 December – Paris (France) Parliamentary hearing on education and religion The Culture Committee brings together Muslim, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Evangelical Christian clerics to discuss the place of religions in education in Europe. 2 December – Paris (France) Winner of the 2005 Council of Europe Museum Prize decided The prize, decided by PACE’s Culture Committee, is aimed at promoting understanding of the rich diversity of European culture. 6-7 December – Paris (France) A centre for European nations’ remembrance The Migration Committee is due to approve reports on the establishment of a centre for European nations’ remembrance, on the plight of the deported Meskhetian population, on asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Turkey and on migration and integration. It will also discuss the image of migrants in the media and the creation of transit centres outside the EU. 9 December – Paris (France) Reports on GMOs, industrial hazards The Environment Committee is due to approve reports on Genetically Modified Organisms and Industrial hazards, as well as holding an exchange of views with leaders of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. 10 December – Stockholm (Sweden) The role of the opposition in a democratic parliament Themes of the seminar, organised by the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities, include “how much opposition is necessary or desirable in a democracy?”, the rights and duties of the opposition and the resources necessary for it to do its work, with examples of good practice. 10 December – Stockholm (Sweden) Report on the initiation of a monitoring procedure A report by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), due to be approved by the Rules Committee, proposes changes in the procedure for beginning monitoring of a member state. 10 December – Paris (France) Meeting of the Equal Opportunities Committee Among topics to be discussed: discrimination against women in the workplace, the draft Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking and plans for the Third Summit.