The Speaker, Mr. David Usupashvili, within the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments held in Strasbourg, delivered the speech and participated in the debates “National Parliaments and the Council of Europe: together promoting Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law”. According to the Speaker, Parliament of Georgia is one of the leaders in terms oc close cooperation with CoE resulting in the Parliament endorsing the human rights strategy and winning the Main Prize at Open Governance Partnership Global Summit in Mexico – “Champion of Open Governance Partnership”. “It would be impossible without support by CoE”. As he stated, CoE members should be more principal and consequent when dealing with human rights.

“There is one Human Rights Convention and hence, it needs accurate and consecutive interpretation”. The Speaker underlined that all as one shall adhere to the values of the organization and it is important for the delegates to be more creative in their activity. After the debates, the Speaker made the comment. “We discuss the issues of utmost importance – European future, current challenges, democracy, human rights and rule of law in inter-Parliamentary cooperation. I delivered the speech at the conference emphasizing necessity of more principal attitude of CoE to protect basic values. I reminded my colleagues that 3 years ago Georgia was imposed the 2-year sanction not allowing Russian MPs fee movement on occupied territories of Georgia with violation of Georgian laws. It entailed Ukraine events. If international structures fail to be principal when it still makes sense, we will witness worse tragedies. I shared my principal opinion that reaccessions of Russia to PACE and exemption of Russia from sanctions would be a wrong action and that none of the problems Russia imposed with the sanctions, are not solved. On the contrary, it will aggravate. So, such forums are for us to try Georgian interests and the values serving the basis for Europe and European future”.

The Conference started in Strasbourg participated by the Speakers and MPs from 47 CoE member states. The event is organized by PACE and it is participated by up to 350 delegates.