Naujienos

Kviečiame susipažinti su Užsienio reikalų viceministro Vytauto Leškevičiaus kalba 124-oje Europos Tarybos Ministrų Komiteto Sesijoje Vienoje.

REMARKS BY H.E. MR. VYTAUTAS LEŠKEVIČIUS

VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

at the 124^th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

Vienna, 6 May 2014

Sehr geehter Herr Vorsitzender,

Mister Secretary General,

Dear Colleagues,

Let me compliment our Austrian host, Minister Kurz for his commitment and for an excellent organisation of this session.

Today we are delighted with the concrete results of the reform of the Council of Europe, propounded and headed by Secretary General Jagland, especially the reduction of the number of cases pending at the European Court of Human Rights.

We also commend the latest SG’s report, which stated, inter alia, the disturbing yet obvious fact – Europe faces a crisis of an unprecedented scale. Yes, I’m talking about Ukraine.

But the roots of the crisis in and around Ukraine lie not primarily in Ukraine. The ongoing crisis stems from a complete disregard of international law, the purposes and principles of the Statute of the Council of Europe, and the very European values this organization was built upon, by one of our member states. We all know who I’m referring to.

The Council of Europe has done a lot in 65 years to nurture a democratic political culture, human rights and the rule of law, thus fostering an area of deep security, as you, Secretary General, have well captured it in your Report. We are now witnessing the shaking and eroding of the very peaceful coexistence of our member states. We also must not forget the worsening human rights situation in the occupied Georgian regions, the increased borderisation, as witnessed in the latest Secretary General’s consolidated report. We can only reiterate the call to Russia to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement of August 12 2008 and to the September 8 Implementing Measures of the six-point agreement.

The current aggression against Ukraine, occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, continuing attempts to destabilize the situation in the Eastern parts of the country as well as the constant threatening to Ukraine and other neighbours – these are existential challenges not only for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, or, say, the Baltic States; but also for this Organization and for the European continent as a whole, if it is to remain an area of human rights, democracy, and rule of law.

We strongly support the initiatives the Council of Europe has already undertaken since the start of the crisis. And we regret that the messages of the Council of Europe aren’t heeded by the Russian Federation. Not only in the Council of Europe, but in many other international fora the crisis is addressed, [including] the 17 April Geneva agreement to de-escalate the crisis. As the Ukrainian Government has already taken concrete steps to implement it, the Russian Federation still needs to be called to do so. Furthermore, we consider it of utmost importance to assist Ukraine in preparing the 25 May Presidential election, making sure that it is held in a free, fair and transparent manner. 

Dear Colleagues,

We all know, that this is, first of all, a value-based Organisation. Dialogue and consensus is, of course, desirable, but it only works on the basis of the common values. Regrettably, current Russia’s behavior is undermining the very essence of our shared values.

Events in Ukraine are a wake-up call, but how many wake-up calls will we need to actually wake up? It is our duty and our joint obligation towards the people of Europe, to resist the aggression and help to stop it. I’m sure that it will play to the benefit of all good-willing and great people in and of Russia as well. Once we do so, we must continue our efforts in creating peaceful and democratic Europe. Europe, where human rights and the rule of law prevail, and where all states respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and foreign policy choices.

I would like to remain hopeful that the European values will prevail over all too often recurring principle “might is right “.

With this in mind, I would like to wish the best success to Minister Elmar Mammadyarov during the future Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers by the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I thank you.