Council of Europe foreign ministers to tackle Russian participation impasse

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-17 04:48:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan
Video PlayerClose

HELSINKI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The future position of Russia in the 47-nation Council of Europe (CoE) is being discussed Thursday and Friday in Helsinki as the CoE foreign ministers convene.

Russia has not been paying its membership dues to the CoE since summer 2017. Russia suspended payments in the wake of the decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) earlier to cancel the voting rights of Russia. It was done as a protest against Russian actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Russia has described the actions by the PACE as unlawful.

Finland has worked for a solution that Russia would remain in the CoE. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who will be present at the CoE foreign ministers meeting in Helsinki, said earlier this week that a draft solution was prepared for the meeting of foreign ministers.

Russia's news agency TASS reported on Thursday that besides talks with the CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, Lavrov would meet several European top diplomats on the sidelines of the meeting in Helsinki.

The meeting at the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the CoE. In his opening address, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the CoE is going through "deepest political, economic and institutional crisis in its history".

Niinisto said a strong Europe is needed perhaps more than ever during the past 70 years. He continued that "a strong Europe needs the Council of Europe".

Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini said that the core values of the CoE are not enjoying the same appreciation as they have before. Soini said, however, that he believes that "with hard work and the desire to cooperate" the CoE will overcome the difficulties and continue work "united and strong".

Thirty of the 47 member countries are represented in Helsinki at the foreign minister level. Deliberations at the Finlandia Hall take place behind closed doors.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has cancelled his participation. Finnish media quoted Ukrainian news service Jevropeiska Pravda as saying that the decision not to arrive was associated to the speculation that measures against Russia "would be considered to be eased".

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105091380645531