(Abstract from the Verbatim Note)

Statement by Sergey Mironov, President of the Federation Council (upper chamber) of the Russian Parliament

The PRESIDENT, speaking in English, introduced Mr Serguei Mironov, thanked him for his co-operation and work with the common forum fighting against terrorism. He called Mr Mironov to speak.

Mr MIRONOV said that it was an honour to participate in the work of the Council of Europe and thanked Mr Schieder for creating conditions of co-operation. It was important to build a larger Europe and focus on economic prosperity. The Council of Europe had shown its political far-sightedness in setting such objectives. Russia was historically and geographically unique and had an important role to play in European unity. The recent report on the Russian Federation’s fulfilment of its commitments reflected Russia’s efforts. Russia had a market economy, had changed its administrative system and those were instruments of the formation of a civil society. Russia had undertaken enormous judicial reform and was attempting to give better protection to human rights. Russia had moved away from the death penalty and there was a need to ensure that it continued to be a country free of capital punishment. It was important that human rights and the rule of law became part of Russian consciousness and its membership of the Council of Europe was an important part of that.

Russia had played a leading role in facing the challenge of international terrorism. There had been a parliamentary convention during March 2002 in St Petersburg. There was a need to create a single legal space and to cut financial flows to terrorists. If states co-operated it would be possible to fight terrorism and to maintain observation of human rights. The Federation Council was following closely the debate on Chechnya. Until now there had been a tendency to trample minority rights and that had been the case in Latvia and Lithuania in respect of stateless persons. The international community and the Council of Europe had an obligation to help solve those problems and to provide the political will.

A zone of active co-operation throughout Europe was needed and that should be without exception. It was a problem that Belarus and the FormerYugoslavia were not incorporated because a full union was desirable. Europe had been concerned about the alliance between Russia and Belarus but that was a temporary arrangement. In the long-term Russia had wanted to see Belarus included in Europe. In Russia there was a problem with the need for people to have visas in order to travel to different parts of the country. That hampered European enlargement and it was important that Russians had freedom of movement and that a Europe without dividing lines was created. Economic co-operation between states was also important and was enhanced through the work of the St Petersburg Economic Forum. Other states were welcome and encouraged to join this forum.