Russia's stance on PACE depends on delegation credentials decision - diplomat
MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The decision by members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) regarding the credentials of the Russian delegation might affect the Russian position with working in this organization.
"A PACE session is due over the next few days to make a decision about the credentials of the Russian delegation. What the parliamentarians decide will largely shape our attitude towards the work of this organization," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov told Interfax, when asked whether Russia could renounce its membership in PACE and in the Council of Europe in general.
"Today the biggest problem on the European continent is the absence of dialogue. And the presence of a dialogue among parliamentarians is one key components of the general political process in Europe," the high-ranking Russian diplomat said.
Earlier the head of the Duma International Affairs Committee, Alexei Pushkov, said that Russia will definitely suspend its PACE membership until the end of 2015 if sanctions against the Russian delegation continue.
In April 2014 differences over the crisis in Ukraine led to the Russian delegation in PACE being stripped of its voting right and the right to attend sessions and take part in PACE monitoring activities.
