10 Sep 2019 13:45

Russia's Volodin calls on PACE to revise work strategy

MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has said he believes that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) needs to reconsider its work strategy and focus on tackling common issues that face all member countries of this organization.

"When it comes to the institutions of the Council of Europe, they ought to be accessible for all member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly. They need to work in the interests of all states. PACE should essentially reconsider the strategy of its work, focusing not on pinpoint decisions and political statements, especially ones made for the benefit of certain countries, but on approaches that could unite all countries of the Council of Europe, because we face common challenges: the fight against terrorism, global security, and migration policy," Volodin said opening the fall session of the State Duma.

"In this context, it would be right to try to harmonize legislation and pass model laws. All this would unite us and, what's more, make this work more useful," he said.

"And when one starts to engage in political maneuvering in issues where no unilateral decisions can be made, this clearly disrupts the balance and leads the organization itself to lose its significance," he said.