The Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly must be in the lead of consolidating the efforts of the international community to eliminate terrorism. This was stated by the President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva before the participants in the sitting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, hosted by the Bulgarian parliament.
On a proposal by PACE President Anne Brasseur, who opened the sitting, the parliamentarians observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the recent terrorist acts against France, Russia, Tunisia and Turkey.
The National Assembly President stressed that today the motto “Unity Makes Strength” is more relevant than ever. This is the motto of the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, said Tsetska Tsacheva. I am confident that together we can successfully address the challenges of our time and believe that the Bulgarian Chairmanship will actively contribute to this end, she added.
Bulgaria is assuming its second chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at a time when Europe is faced with new grave challenges, stressed the President of the National Assembly. The complex situation compels us to reassert the objectives of the Council of Europe, the values and principles of European unity and cooperation and to address the challenges accordingly, Tsetska Tsacheva said.
The President of the Bulgarian parliament stated that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe must continue playing its active role as a forum for dialogue on the continent between MPs from the EU Member States and their counterparts from other European countries. Moreover, in the Council of Europe there are also non-European countries with a status of Partners for Democracy, whose participation is particularly valuable for building confidence and security in the neighboring regions, said Tsetska Tsacheva.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, whose stipulations have become fundamental to contemporary international relations, noted further the National Assembly President. Inviolability of borders, resolution of conflicts by peaceful means and through negotiations, cooperation between states in a spirit of goodwill are all principles that have no alternative, said Tsetska Tsacheva.
She noted that in the framework of the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, the National Assembly is planning to host an International Conference “Democratic security based on European unity and cooperation”. To take part in the forum are invited the Chairpersons of the Committees on Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe member states and PACE representatives.
Among the other priorities of the Bulgarian Chairmanship are the protection of media from external influence, protection of children's rights and facilitating young people’s access to culture, said Tsetska Tsacheva. These are all topics on which PACE has adopted a number of documents, which we support and believe that they should not be reduced to mere intentions, she stressed.
Within the term of the Bulgarian Chairmanship we are planning to organize an International Conference “Our Europe: How to live together in the 21st century - the issue of migration” with the participation of youth organizations of pan-European political parties and in cooperation with the Council of Europe, and an International Conference “Protection of the rights of refugee children” in cooperation with the office of UNICEF, said National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva.
In her speech at the opening of the Standing Committee sitting, PACE President Anne Brasseur stressed that the acts of terrorism committed against France, Russia, Tunisia and Turkey are barbaric acts that not only take innocent lives but represent an attack against our common values. She urged the parliamentarians to take joint action against terrorism and said that democracy and the rule of law must prevail.
PACE President Anne Brasseur pointed out that terrorism threatens the very roots of democracy and the fundamental values that the Council of Europe stands for, therefore its members have to come together as one to defend democracy. To do this, we need to overcome political divisions and to focus on the roots of extremism and radicalization, she stressed, adding that hatred, discrimination and intolerance should be denounced.
The European family must stand together, concerted and undivided, and prove that there is an answer to terrorism in line with the standards and principles of the Council of Europe, PACE President went on to say.
President Anne Brasseur welcomed the priorities set by the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe. She stressed the importance of focusing on the rights of children and expanding the access to culture for young people because culture is the main response to radicalization. PACE President said that protecting media from external influences is also very important, because media are condition sine qua non for a vibrant democracy with free and democratic elections.
Bulgaria and its neighbors are on the migratory route, said further in her speech Anne Brasseur. I think that we need to reinforce solidarity and trans-border cooperation amongst all countries, including Western Balkan countries, be they member of the European Union or not, she stressed.
About 60 parliamentarians from the Council of Europe member states are taking part in the sitting of the Standing Committee in Sofia. PACE Standing Committee acts on behalf of the Assembly between plenary sessions. It comprises the President and Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, the Chairpersons of Assembly Political Factions, the Heads of National Delegations and the Chairs of Assembly Committees.