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Russia, Georgia Face Council Of Europe Ejection

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  • Russia, Georgia Face Council Of Europe Ejection

    RUSSIA, GEORGIA FACE COUNCIL OF EUROPE EJECTION
    By Julian Hale

    DefenseNews.com
    Sept 16 2008

    BRUSSELS - Foreign ministers from the Council of Europe could at an
    upcoming meeting decide to suspend Russia and Georgia's memberships
    of the organization for being in breach of their commitments, says
    the Council of Europe's Secretary General Terry Davis.

    Davis told journalists here September 15 that he had pointed out to
    foreign ministers that this is one option available to them and that
    the only sanction available under the COE's statutes is suspension of
    their memberships. For this to happen, a two thirds majority of the
    47 foreign ministers whose countries are Council of Europe members
    would have to vote for it. At least half would have to be present
    for the vote.

    Davis is "very concerned" at the situation. "It is almost unprecedented
    for two member states of the Council of Europe to be at war with each
    other," he said. He pointed out that that neither Russia nor Georgia
    had kept promises they made, when they joined the Council of Europe,
    to settle disputes by peaceful means.

    He has also put forward a second option, to establish a special
    monitoring procedure for Russia and Georgia, which would be carried
    out by visits to the countries and "would not duplicate what the
    Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is doing with
    its monitors". The monitoring procedure would cover issues such as
    human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Davis said that the
    procedure could be similar to one that has been set up for Armenia
    and Azerbaijan.

    Davis says that there are applications at the European Court for
    Human Rights by South Ossetians against Georgia and by Georgia against
    Russia. He expects the ECHR to focus on two or three applications that
    would act as precedents for other cases. He also expects Georgians
    to bring actions against Russia for being forced out of Georgia.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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