Russia's withdrawal from CoE would not be conducive to Russia-EU dialogue - head of EU Delegation to Russia
MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Moscow's statements on its possible withdrawal from the Council of Europe are hardly conducive to maintaining dialogue between Russia and the European Union, says Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Vygaudas Usackas.
"It is my personal opinion as a diplomat and a citizen: I don't think that such hasty decisions on phasing out one's presence in PACE could be conducive to maintaining ties and dialogue," Usackas said at a press conference at the Interfax main office on Thursday in commenting on State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin's statement to the effect that Russia would raise the issue of its membership of the Council of Europe if its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) does not fully reinstate the Russian delegation's credentials this year.
PACE's stance on Russia is "part of an opinion and a position of not only the governments but also the legislative authorities" of the Council of Europe members, Usackas said.
