Nobody will turn out Russia of the Council of Europe whatsoever
Talks
on this question are nonsense. Who will deprive himself of the biggest
financial donor? Council of Europe? Never! Even with all its craziness
about democracy and human rights.
It is the case when people say "money beats evil." The point is that no matter how long they discuss the conflict between Russia and Georgia, Russia will remain Russia of its principles and positions. And PACE will remain of its.
The August war in Georgia will be the main focus of the autumn
session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE),
which opens in Strasbourg on September 29.
The debates will be held in two parts: on September 30 and on October 2.
A group of 24 members of PACE submitted a request for the
reconsideration of the credentials of the Russian delegation to PACE
"on the grounds of serious violations of the basic principles" of the
Council of Europe.
Luc van den Brande, PACE representative on Russia-Georgia relations
will report to the Assembly about his visit to Moscow and Tbilisi.
Visiting Moscow last week Luc van den Brande said "finding truth is
a necessary precondition for reconciliation." The delegation of 9 PACE
MPs noted that its main purpose was to meet representatives of both
sides of the conflict to clarify the situation.
Representatives of the delegation came to the conclusion that
Council of Europe is "an ideal platform" for Georgia and Russia to sit
down and talks vis-à-vis (both countries are members of Council of
Europe, Georgia - from April 27, 1999; Russia - from February 28, 1996).
But the most interesting is that in Moscow, in response to the
question about revision of the plenary powers of the Russian delegation
to PACE, Luc van den Brande said it was unlikely however that the
Assembly would freeze the Russian delegation's powers. "I believe
Russia needs Europe, as well as Europe needs Russia," he said.
But what sounds really serious is the phrase: "Russia may leave
Council of Europe!" Commenting on the possible revision, Konstantin
Kosachyov, who heads Russia's delegation at PACE, said if a decision
was made to suspend the powers of the Russian delegates, he would
recommend to Moscow that it withdraws from the Council of Europe.
Though, he does not consider that PACE is serious about depriving of
powers from the Russian delegation. Moreover, Foreign Minister of
Georgia Nino Kalandadze declared recently that Georgia is not
interested in withdrawal of Russia from Council of Europe. "Council of
Europe monitors all its members. It is one of the instruments to watch
and control Russia for us," she said.
Hence, the conclusion is that nobody will turn out Russia of the
Council of Europe whatsoever. PACE may slap Russia's wrist. And Russia
may slap the wrist of Georgia. And it is unknown who will do better job.
At the same time, this session of PACE will not be so easy for Russia. There are several factors proving this.
First of all, the leader of the Russian people's democratic union
Mikhail Kasyanov will come to Strasbourg will his program. He was
denied the registration of the political party "People for democracy
and justice" in Russia. So he is coming to Strasbourg to bring an
action against the authorities of Russia, and his speech will be hardly
in favour of Moscow's actions regarding Georgia or of Putin, Medvedev
or "United Russia".
Secondly, a number of protest actions is planned to be held in
Strasbourg on September 29-30 under the name "Ossetia accuses" and
aimed at attraction of attention to the tragedy occurred in Ossetia
through the fault of Georgian authorities. Participants of the actions
will call the states and peoples of Europe to condemn the criminal
regime of Georgia.
* * *
Despite the fact that this week is plenary for the parliament,
representatives of all forces of Ukraine, except for Lytvyn's bloc,
arrived in Strasbourg: Oksana Bilozir (Our Ukraine), Hryhory Omelchenko
(BYuT), Evhen Marmazov (CPU) and Serhiy Holovaty (the Party of Regions).
You could read in their eyes that early elections in Ukraine will
take place, but how to tell this in PACE?.. How to explain to Council
of Europe the fact that clerks accuse the Premier of high treason? How
to explain the fact that in the fight for the presidential chair the
rivals use "heavy metal" to discredit an opponent, like an attempt to
send for Pavlo Lazarenko?
I wonder whether any of PACE MPs will be able to understand what our politicians are going to tell.
Serhiy Doyko, Strasbourg
