“Without democratic principles there can be no stable Europe,” – Dmytro Razumkov
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Dmytro Razumkov, participated in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament of the Council of Europe member states. In his speech, he urged the conference participants to promote returning to the basic principles and ideas laid down by the founders of the Council of Europe, namely: observance of high standards in the realm of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Dmytro Razumkov stressed that today Ukraine is deeply concerned about undermining the effectiveness of the key CoE bodies, since applying double standard principles to the decision-making process does call into question the organic values of this esteemed organization.
“Our consistency and principled stand must be indissoluble and lasting if indeed we strive to promote law of nations as a value. And the only guarantee of a free and democratic development is the willingness to secure respect to human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized.
Dmytro Razumkov also drew attention of those in attendance that the organization - at this point in time – is scantily responsive to the steadfast tendencies towards human rights violations in certain countries. However, Ukraine, together with other states, is not prepared to put up with attempts to discredit the Council of Europe's authority.
“Ukraine’s well-grounded decision to refuse attending the PACE session is in protest against the return of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly. This decision is an overt reaction to the total and systematic violation of human rights by the aggressor in the temporarily occupied territories,” the speaker emphasized later on.
At the end of his speech, the Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament stated that as foundations for Europe’s development during the next seventy years there should be the concept of democratic security based on the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
“Without democratic principles there can be no stable and safe Europe. I am convinced that restoration of respect to such values should become a cross-cutting topic for further debate within these walls,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada highlighted.