Russia has received the right to vote in the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In the DW-Interview with Andreas Nick, Vice-President of the parliamentary Assembly to explain the German Position.
After a five-year hiatus, Russia is allowed to vote in the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) again – despite the opposition of the deputies from Ukraine, Georgia and other countries. In 2014, Russia had the right to vote because of the annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea are deprived of. In June 2017, in Moscow, then the payment of his membership fees of around 33 million euros per year – about nine per cent of the annual budget of the Council of Europe. DW spoke with Dr. Andreas Nick (CDU), the Vice-President of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and head of the Delegation of the German Bundestag.
Deutsche Welle: Dr. Nick, at the Moment you will discuss in the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, the return of the Russian Delegation. What the German Position is on this?
Dr. Andreas Nick: We have an unchanged Position in relation to the substantive issues of concern about the annexation of the Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine and in the Azov sea. But we are of the opinion that Russia, with all the Rights and obligations should remain a member of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. We are, in particular, the position of the access to the European court of human rights for the 140 million citizens of the Russian Federation, but also that of the Council of Europe can fulfill its role as a Forum of Dialogue and exchange also to the difficult problems between the member States. And since the Russian Federation is an indispensable Partner.
In 2014, Russia was sanctioned for its Invasion and annexation of Parts of Ukraine and his / her voting right in PACE suspended. The return of the Russian Delegation’s right, although Russia has made no efforts to improve the Situation?
Our assessment of the above-mentioned topics – Crimea, Donbass, Azov sea, but also on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation – is unchanged. We have just renewed in the previous week in the European Union, the sanctions in these questions unanimously.
To distinguish the question of whether one can achieve with the exclusion of a country from the Council of Europe, any progress is. I think the Council of Europe has a mandate that focuses primarily on the protection of human rights, the rule of law in a pluralistic democracy. Since the access to the human right court of justice for the citizens of Russia a decisive date. Also the access of the institutions of the Council of Europe, such as the human rights Commissioner, on the territory of Russia is one of the demands is in the room.
Andreas Nick, head of the German Delegation in the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The colleagues from the Russian Federation must here, in this week – difficult debates provide. We have a debate about the clarification of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov (Russian opposition politician who was shot dead in Moscow in 2015 – ed.). There will be a debate on the status of the investigation into the shooting down of the aircraft MH17. In this respect, this is an important Forum to be able to, especially in the Russian society, and positive influence.
In German media the opinion is expressed that Europe’s decision to allow the return of the Russian Delegation, sends a wrong signal to the autocracy. What do you think?
I don’t tend to do that, we make policy according to the symbolic aspects, but to concrete results. Me has still no one can explain what would be the Situation in the Donbass, the Crimea or in the Russian Federation better, if we had enforced the withdrawal of Russia from the Council of Europe.
Ukraine threatens their participation in PACE, to suspend, to get the Russian Delegation the right to vote back. How would you comment on that?
I think the last word is not spoken yet. We still have in this month’s parliamentary elections in Ukraine, after which the Rada will have a name in Kiev, in any case, a new Delegation. After all, what can today suspect, will be the likely to staff, and, politically, very much is different.
Ukraine threatens their participation in the parliamentary Assembly to suspend
I would think that a big mistake, from the Council of Europe to withdraw it. I think it would be a missed opportunity and the Ukraine would damage certainly in the overall look rather.
Could be the financial issue is one of the reasons, to allow the return of the Russian Delegation? On their website they write that with the payment of the outstanding contributions on the part of Russia to a financial crisis in the Council of Europe could be avoided.
I have never spoken of the financial crisis, but the institutional crisis. The financial question of a subordinate is. It comes to the whereabouts of any country in the organization, the access of its citizens to the court of human rights, and the Chance for an intensive dialogue on the public Forum of the parliamentary Assembly, including on the critical issues relating to the Russian Federation.
On your page, but, and I quote: “it is Expected that Russia pays its outstanding contributions, and a financial crisis in the Council of Europe can be avoided.”
That was just a description of the Situation. In the Moment, where the Russian Federation has paid their contributions, is, of course, the financial crisis is available. I have kept only against the position that the financial issue is the decisive Motivation for the decision of yesterday. It is not with security. And for that, you will also find in my Statements, no proof.
The Interview was conducted by Kateryna Ivanova